Old Copy Machine With Purple Ink

Duplicating machines were the predecessors of modern document reproduction technology.

Old copy machine with purple ink.

The stencil duplicator or mimeograph machine often abbreviated to mimeo is a low cost duplicating machine that works by forcing ink through a stencil onto paper. There were two cylinders with a silkscreen belt running on them. The ink came in tubes. Stencil duplication was a low cost printing method that worked by forcing ink through waxed paper stencils on to target paper.

They have now been replaced by digital duplicators scanners laser printers and photocopiers but for many years they were the primary means of reproducing documents for limited run distribution the duplicator was pioneered by thomas edison and david gestetner with gestetner dominating the market up until. The mimeograph process should not be confused with the spirit duplicator process. Ideally each ink color would have its own screen. Sold a hectograph kit as late as 1974 tray gelatin a few sheets of purple inked paper and that thick cover.

Ditto machine purple print and that smell. I guess we changed those. The duplicator that produces purple copies is not a mimeograph. We just cleaned it out to change color.

A ditto machine was a primitive photocopier that used a solvent like methylated spirits or ammonia to transfer ink from the master copy the template if you will onto other pieces of paper. The stencil was thin rubber backed with paper and it was critical to get this on right while peeling the paper backing. Ditto machines made the purple copies that faded over time faster with exposure to light. When the gelatin got too saturated with ink dad would liquidize it by heating it and re pour it into the pan les newcomer reports that the heyer hectograph co.

Who could forget the purple ink that rubbed off on your hands the copies had a smell that was recognised by any 1960 70 s school kid. It didn t use a drum. When i was in grade school i remember this copier that printed in purple ink and the secretary had to turn a handle to produce copies. I never knew to actual name of it.

Mimeographs along with spirit duplicators and hectographs were a common technology in printing small quantities as in office work classroom.