Diestamping
Once the plate is engraved, it is mounted onto a diestamping press, a large heavily built machine of up to 4.5 tons in weight.
The diestamper has then to cut out a ‘male force’, to exactly mate with the ‘female’ die or copper plate. This is a skilled operation, cutting thick card with a surgeon’s scalpel. The die is then inked over, wiped by a blade and brown paper, before the ink is forced out of the engraved groves with the great pressure of the press, onto the chosen paper or card. (Real engraved stationery can be distinguished by the ‘force mark’ on the reverse of the sheet).
Piccolo has four beautiful Diestamping Presses, built by “Waite& Savill” of Otley over sixty years ago. Please watch the video to see how all the working parts act in harmony - without the help of any microchips!
View some pictures of diestamping and engraving here.
Tim Honnor is Chairman of the British Engraved Stationery Association and his talk in the St Brides Printing Library, Fleet Street in 2003 is here.
