Inventor Thomas Edison (American, 1847 – 1931)

Diaphragm mimeograph

1902

Place madeChicago, Illinois, United States, North America

Wood, metal, slate, glass, ink, textile

Overall: 5 1/4 x 20 1/2 x 5 1/4 in. ( 13.3 x 52.1 x 13.3 cm )

INV.7895

DescriptionDiaphragm mimeograph consisting of wooden box opening to reveal set of compartments, with diaphragm (consisting of frame, stencil, and printing-bed) and inking slate stacked on top; in compartments, roller (with wooden handle and other metal component) mounted on stand, glass varnish bottle in rough wooden box, and two ink-stained rags; lithographed panels on lid and painted inscription (in red and gold) on front, with printed papers attached to inside of lid and bottom of box; two metal hooks swing up to screws on front of lid, to fasten box.

Markingslithographed: on box lid, within first panel: "THE/EDISON MIMEOGRAPH/ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AND PATENTED BY/MR. THOMAS A. EDISON/MADE BY/A. B. DICK COMPANY, CHICAGO, U.S.A./N.B. THIS MACHINE IS SOLD BY THE A.B.DICK COMPANY WITH THE LICENSE RESTRICTION THAT IT CAN/BE USED ONLY WITH STENCIL, PAPER, INK AND OTHER SUPPLIES MADE BY/A. B. DICK COMPANY, CHICAGO." lithographed: on box lid, within second panel: "THE PATENTS DESIGNATED BELOW ARE OWNED BY US, AND [OPERATED UNDER] BY/EXCLUSIVE LICENSE... [continues for two more lines, then includes lists of U.S. and foreign patents, with numbers and dates]" lithographed: on front of box, lid and lower part of box below: "No 61/DIAPHRAGM MIMEOGRAPH" printed: on first sheet of paper attached to inside of box lid: "...PRICE LIST.../OF/EDISON DIAPHRAGM MIMEOGRAPHS [includes list of machines, parts, and supplies, with prices]" printed: on second sheet of paper attached to inside of box lid: "NEW AND SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THE/DIAPHRAGM MIMEOGRAPH,/ FOR REDUPLICATING TYPEWRITING [includes step-by-step instructions and guidelines for the care of machine and supplies]" lithographed: on wooden frame of diaphragm: "IMPORTANT DIRECTIONS! 1ST. When through printing remove the stencil 2ND. Replace/the frame on printing bed. 3RD. Remove the surplus ink in the/Diaphragm by laying a portion of an old newspaper underneath as well as on top of it, and pass the inking roller over/it with pressure... [continues for several lines]"; "N.B. THIS MACHINE IS SOLD BY THE A.B. DICK COMPANY WITH THE LICENSE/RESTRICTION THAT IT CAN BE USED ONLY WITH PENCIL, PAPER, INK, AND OTHER SUPPLIES MADE BY/A.B. DICK COMPANY, Chicago, U.S.A." printed: on piece of paper attached to bottom of box, below roller mounted on stand: "IMPORTANT TO OPERATORS/[divided by thick line]/THE ROLLER [within box] To print satisfactorily, the/Inking Roller must be kept/clean and when it loses its/elasticity and is no longer/soft, IT SHOULD BE REPLACED/WITH A NEW ONE, as good results/CANNOT POSSIBLY be obtained with/a hard roller... [continues with four other sets of instructions]" printed: on paper label attached to bottle: "Edison MimeographVarnish,/MADE ONLY BY/A. B. DICK COMPANY, N.Y.C. CHICAGO." pressed: on glass bottle, rim: "A. B. DICK CO."; "CHICAGO, U.S.A."

ClassificationsBUSINESS TOOLS & EQUIPMENT