printing plate

[Sandmaniac]

I think thats what it is, another find from behind my house in Tewksbury.
The writing is backwards so I rubbed it with a pencil and made out "New England And The Telephone" on top. It could of been used for telephone poles but I don't know.
Mike

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

Looks like the page from a book done on a linotype (lead) transfer sheet. Hold it up to a mirror and read it.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

I think you have a printing plate ....pretty cool....

Here is a website on New England Phone company ....might be able to get some history here .....
http://www.lib.uconn.edu/online/research/speclib/ASC/findaids/SNET/MSS19970122.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England_Telephone_and_Telegraph

 

[PBK]

Is it like copper on the front, and maybe lead on the back? If so, it's what's called an electrotype, or "electro" for short. A wax impression is made of the set type. Next, the wax is treated with graphite and electroplated with copper. When the wax is removed, what's left is a thin copper shell which can serve as a printing plate. Usually, electros are backfilled with lead to give them added strength to stand up to the pressure of printing.

If it's solid, lead-like metal (type metal), then it was cast in a kind of thin papier mâché mould called a mat. The mat is created by impressing it upon set type while the papier mâché is still moist and pliable, then drying and curing it to withstand casting molten type metal into it.

If the condition's not too bad, any local newspaper or print shop should be able to pull a few proofs (printed copies) from it for you at little or no cost, and that would make a neat display with the plate itself.

 

[Sandmaniac]

Re: printing plate deciphered

I held the plate up to a magnified mirror and this is what it says,



The First Telephone and Some of Its Successors

New England And The Telephone

The telephone was born in Boston, was sponsored by New England brains and New England capital and from this corner of the United States started out on its world-wide career.

As an agency of distribution our service ranks with that of the railroads. Every business man is concerned quite deeply with the problem of distribution as he is with the problem of manufacturing.

We believe we are of in service in helping to bring New England the new material necessary to its factories and in helping to distribute the finished products not only through New England, but in all countries of the world.

Telephone service opens to us the completion of 5,000,000 calls per day right here in New England. It is our desire to handle this immense volume of business expiditiously and correctly. To do this requires adequate equipment maintained to a high standard of perfection, but also individual team play of the highest order by 25,000 employees.

We are preparing to play a large part in the advancement of New England and the development of its enterprises.

Pretty cool huh! Thanks for your help friends,
Mike

 

[stefen]

Re: printing plate ( deciphered )

Always learn something new each day...

Good info..

 

[history hunter]

Nice printing plate, I found one, (copper and lead), this year with a story about henry ford and one a while ago that was just lead, that advertised biskets.