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Printing Equipment83 of 189Table Rock Argus Print ShopArtistic Set In Rubber Type
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    Posted 10 years ago

    Grayfur1
    (25 items)

    Hello,
    Hope all is well with everyone. I am trying to track down some information on an item I found at a flea market and wonder if you may be able to help. I've attached a few photos above. There are letters attached to a leather strap that can be wound between 2 reels. Then a piston type device to press the letter against what ever is being printed. I don't know if it is for embossing or printing. There does not seem to be any ink residue, which kind of makes me think it is for embossing. The only marking I see is "Sign-Ograph, MONADNOCK BLDG, Chicago,

    Any suggestions where I might be able to find any more information on this.?
    Thanks,
    Jim

    Unsolved Mystery

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    Comments

    1. aghcollect aghcollect, 10 years ago
      Does the machine slide forward on those rails so a sign could be positioned beneath the press?
    2. Grayfur1, 10 years ago
      Hello aghcollect.
      Yes, the machine slides back and forth on the rails. The rails also have wheels on the back side (not visible in the photo) that allow the rail and device to roll left & right
    3. Grayfur1, 10 years ago
      Hello Riply206,
      Thanks for the information, very much appreciated. I'll do some more research and report back with any additional findings
    4. TubeAmp TubeAmp, 10 years ago
      Is it possible Riply that your research is combining two different companies? Sign-ograph Chicago, and Signograph, New York. As a check printer, it would only be useful for those giant state lottery checks.

      T A
    5. TubeAmp TubeAmp, 10 years ago
      Thank you for saying that. I try not to come across as a jerk, except in the few cases where people are trying to hype a counterfeit or simulated antique for a future auction listing.

      We as collectors can sometimes be passionate about our hobby, and sometimes that can come out and seem rude at times. I wouldn't always take it to heart.

      T A
    6. Grayfur1, 10 years ago
      Riply206, thanks for the information. Would it be safe to say this machine was made prior to 1915 as the tag indicates "SIGN-OGRAPH CO, (not INC). Or maybe they used some tags on hand after being incorporated.
    7. Grayfur1, 10 years ago
      Hello Riply206. Thanks again for more detail. I did find this reference to the Signograph. From th earticle, it sounds like the signograph was a machine that held several pens that would replicate the writing of a master Pen. Does it sound like that to you?
      http://books.google.com/books?id=_mJYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA19-PA5&lpg=RA19-PA5&dq=L.+E.+Waterman+company+signograph&source=bl&ots=9PS-ljdp03&sig=e9LHcy-Kth0IXRiLdKmXjq46pnI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8fP3U7fqBIP8yQTqjoGoCQ&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=L.%20E.%20Waterman%20company%20signograph&f=false
    8. AntiqueTypewriters AntiqueTypewriters, 7 years ago
      Hi. What are the chances that you still have this? I'm kind of interested. Thanks!
    9. Grayfur1, 7 years ago
      Hello,
      sorry , we no longer have this item, but, do you know what it is?
      Regards
      J
    10. AntiqueTypewriters AntiqueTypewriters, 7 years ago
      I believe it's a sign writer. A preliminary search yielded one old classified ad from the company for "Salesmen Wanted," though no image if the item. Haven't found a patent yet.

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