It: ."m #» •►•^sjife. .«^. V LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. ap — %rJB{/t:|tt. Shelf XXSi.6 UNITED STATES OF AMEKIOA. 'A THE ^<. ?LASr/o^^ EXPLAINED "^^^ X \ WITH N\ New Method of ^S EMBOS^ = =. = = =.=. l^ '* i. New York. o,G>^ \\ Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1893, by A. M. Ernsbekger, in the ofiice of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. (^ r' oi3 ■^a Perfokatp:u Stench. xVlpiiabets. 1 doz. alphabets, assorted styles, large, mediiiin aud small, - .50 1^ doz. alphabets, special, assorted styles, 1 ill. to 8 ins., - .35 }4 doz. alphabets, si)ecial, assorted styles, % ill. to l)o ius., - .25 PEllFORATED StPJNCIL OkNAMENTS, 1 doz. assorted designs, • .40 >^ " " " large, .30 % " " " small, .15 Carbon Paper, 5 x 10, half doz. sheets, .20 Stencil Pounces, each - - .15 " Powder, per box, - .15 TO PRINTERS. This little booklet, which is fur- nished with our Plastique outfit, gives plain directions how to use it for embossing and decorative purposes. The ingenious printer will discover new values and new fields for it as he becomes familiar with its use. AYith a view of making the out- fit entirely practical in the hands of our patrons, its planning was entrusted to a skilled expert who has had a long and successful ex- perience in this line of work and by whom the directions were i)re- pared. Morgans & Wilcox Mfg. Co., MIDDLETOWN, N. Y. PLASTiaaE. Art is deceptive, and in most instances is excellent only in i3ro- portion to the completeness of the deception. Hence, Plastiqne ap- pears incognito in many articles of merchandise, both ornamental and useful — the casual observer never suspecting the genuineness of many goods displayed. Plastiqne, as used in sign writ- ing and the great range of decor- ative work to whicli it is now ap- plied, is a secret, whicli, up to this date, is possessed only by a few. Its constantly increasing popu- larity, as well as tlie great diver- sity of its uses, is evidence suffi- cient that a brief expose of its mysteries will be appreciated by many whose vocation affords opportunities for using it with profit . As a novelty for advertising purposes, Plastique has a wide Held. "Hand-made" is always more attractive, api^arently more expensive, and in this instance is specially desirable because it affords considerable disi^lay at small expense. In the case of menus, pro- grams, dance orders, invitations, price cards, indoor signs, etc., it has no equal. No printer can af- ford to be without it. The first requisite for the prac- tice of the art is the most ordinary knowledge of the construction and shape of the letters of the alx^habet. The peculiar merit of Plastiqiie is its adaptation to gro- tesque and antique letters, nour- ishes, etc. DlHECTIOflS. ( 1 ) Take of Plastique powder, nine ev^en measures, to which add four even measures of water, blood warm, and thoroughly mix in a tea -cup or bowl. ( 2 ) Stir, mixing and working well under the spoon, for five or ten minutes. Do not let the composi- tion dry on the exposed surface of the vessel in which it is mixed, but keep clean and cover well with damp cloth. After a few minutes time allowed in whicli to season, in a moderately warm atmosphere, and then a.2:ain well stirred, if poured from a spoon slowly from a height into the disli, it should appear ropy and tena- cious, with the slightest tendency to pile up in the dish where it falls, though it should sink away to a level almost instantly if of tlie proper consistency. The slightest variation in tlie quantity of ' 'powder' ' or ' 'water, ' ' Avill retard, or facilitate, the How of the composition througli the tube. Before filling the bulb, how- ever, one of the small points, of requisite fineness, which accom- panies the outfit, should be insert- ed in the tube and gently pulled tightly into position with the thumb and finger. The bulb and tube carefully rinsed and permit- ted to drain for a few minutes, the composition again tlioronglily stirred together, is put into the bulb and the tube secured in I)lace. With the right hand grasping the bulb, and steadied by the left as shown in accom- panying illustration, the learner will proceed with the follow^ing exercises in the order designated : Moving the i3oint slowly, or squeezing the bulb harder, makes the lines heavier. A quick motion, pressing lightly on the bulb, makes thinner lines. The X)oint of the tube should barely touch the surface, or move evenly above the article being worked upon, as experience will best teach. Exercise I. Perpendicular par- allel lines, downward stroke, and horizontal parallel lines in pairs of equal length. II. Same as above, except the lines are swollen in the middle and tai)er toward each end. III. Same as first, but heavy at one end and light at the other, reversing light and heavy ends in each i^air. IV. Circles in pairs of equal size. V. Dots of uniform size. AVhen the above exercises can be executed with tolerable ease and certainty, the amateur may risk the effort of following lined or stenciled copy. A little practice in imitating certain styles of letters, wdiich have the general appearance of having been thrown loosely together, will afford the best x)os- sible training. The general rules for spacing and display, for relief by ornamentation, scrolls, etc., apply. Smearing the composi- tion on and working on it with the finger ends, or with common Jacket comb, combing it into all sorts of fantastic shapes, or with piece of coarse sjionge, or a well- worn whisk broom, working on a frame, j)ictnre mat, or advertising- card, the qnaintest resnlts are easily secnred. This general caution shonld be borne in mind at all times, viz : Before proceeding with any let- tering or decorative work, be snre that yon have a well dehned idea of Avhat you are about to do. If lettering, let the letters be ever so lightly indicated in pencil chalk or stenciled design, to insure pro})- er spacing, neatness and symetry. BfJONZlNG. Usually not more than one min- ute should elapse from the begin- ning of a letter or decoration, before the bionze is applied to that spot, as the drying prevents the proper adhesion of the bronze. Whatever of bronze, flitter, flock, etc., is to be applied, should be dusted on with a brush, the arti- cle hit sharply with the flnger tips a few times, to secure a com- 2^1 ete contact of the bronze, after which it is instantly turned squarely upside down, and all excess of bronze jarred off. The Avork should lie perfectly level when drying, to prevent running. In a few hours it will be suffi- ciently dry to be brushed off* with a flne bristle brush, after which it nray be dusted and wiped clean with soft nuislin. 12 Some very beautiful euuibiuii- tions are easily produced with dif- ferent colored bronzes, flitters, etc. If the operator is careful to remove all excess of each applica- tion, the bright and telling con- trasts may be varied to suit each subject. Plastique work in colors alone may be quite ornamental, though with the application of a little bronze the effect is greatly heightened. Holding a card in a vertical position and quickly dust- ing on the bronze, so that it is caught only on one side of the let- ter or ornament, finishing with another color, produces the effect of delicate shadino- universally admired but seldom understood. 13 STEHCIliS. DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING, ETC. Lay a sheet of carbon - coining paper on glass or other smooth level surface, and on it a piece of average weight, well-sized manilla paj^er, laying over all, the letter or design used as pattern, and trace Avitli hard jjencil or other smooth X)oint. When the whole design has been traced, the reversed copy on the manilla is to be punctured at slight intervals with a small pin point, after which the rough points in the stencil pat- tern sliould be lightlv brushed off with fine sand X3aj)er, in order to l)e sufficiently open to receive the stencil-jDOwder. In use, the stencil is laid upon the work to be nuirked, rough side up, and hehl in lAace with the lingers of tlie left hand, while with the right the pounce is brushed once carefully over the raised j^erf orations of the pattern. The use of too much color in the stencil-powder should be avoided on white or delicate sur- faces, as it is liable to soil the work in liand. Care should be taken not to smear and blur with too much rubbing. Too great a quantity of stencil-powder some- times prevents a perfect contact of the composition. Pl^ESS EIVTBOSSING. The era of jiress embossing has begun, and bids fair, in the wealth and extent of its productions, to outstrip the mania for chromos that for so . many years possessed tlie world. 15 / Press embossing will not only stand on its own merits, but is certain to receive i>reat aid from all the color printing interests as well. The possibilities of press embossing in the near future are utterly beyond the reach of our imagination to-day. Only time and ingenuity will demonstrate it. The importance of " catching on " early, however, must be apparent to every printer. We offer herewith an inexpen- sive method for press embossing which, in careful hands, is sure to bring a fair return. If. PliflSTIQUE DIE SHEETS. These sheets are of recent invention, sj)ecially x^repared, and peculiarly adapted for use in the preparation of embossing dies for printers' use, with the Plastique outfit. They will be found equal to all reasonable requirements as to depth, fineness, hardness, dura- bility and facility of jorejia ration. They are i^ut up in packages suitable for mail or express, one dozen to the package, excepting the largest size, which is put up a half dozen to the package. Descrij^- tion as follows: JN'o. 1, 5 X 7 inches. " 2,7x10 " " 3, 10 X 14 " The x^rogressive j)rinter Avill iind the Plastique die sheets indisx)ensable where quantities of special designs are required at niiniiiium prices ; sucli as win- dow signs and other advertising cards, cliristmas cards, folders, programs, dance orders, folding boxes and sundry articles. These sheets used as herein directed constitute the Plastique die out- tit, which aifords the most econ- omical method ever offered to job printers for the production of this class of work. The total cash outlay for a dozen dies by this process being less than the usual price of a single die. In fact when this kind of business is now offered to the average printer "he is not in it." The distance to the engraver of embossing dies, the l)other, delay and expense, are real obstacles not easily overcome. The Plastique die oiitht opens up a new held for the progressive 18 printer, wherever lie may be, and lie can not fail to " catch on " at once, it' he will but make a trial of it. iDlHHOTlOfiS FOR PliflSTIQUE Pf^ESS EmBOSSiHG. Procure a thin, lirm card sheet, or strong paper on which the design is to be made, also a planei board, in thickness nearly type high, squared to a size an inch or two in excess of the space the design will cover. A warm room, warm dishes and warm soft water are conditions favorable to best results. Take one measure of water, put into a tea-cup, stir in two meas- ures of Press Embossing Plastique powder, and, when thoroughly in- 19 ('or[)orated, add slowly Avliite "Plastique powder," stirring well, as much as will be possible to run freely from the tube and adhere well to the material to wdiich it is applied, showing but slight tend- ency to flatten out or run before setting. The design having been lightly traced on the card sheets, the operator will best succeed in a cooler room, as the setting wdll occur with less change, leaving a cleaner and better defined line. After a few hours, in a cool dry atmosphere, the design will be sufficiently hardened. In certain cases where an even surface is desired on the embossing, it may be secured as follows : When the setting has but slightly begun, the card sheet may be placed on an imposing- stone, and a thin sheet of w^axed 20 paper laid on the work. A level piece of glass may now l^e lightly laid upon the waxed paper, and pressed upon slightly to secure the desired surface, after which remove the glass, leaving the waxed paper until the hardening is complete, lest the design be injured in its removal. Gut a piece of die sheet to the size of the block before described, and put in a warm place until somewhat pliable, then holding it face down over a warm stove or radiator, until as warm as may be without sloAvly creeping when pla(;- ed in a vertical position. By this time the sheet should be quite pliable and capable of receiving an impression. The block having been properly locked in the form, the die sheet is glued to it. The desi^'u, which has been allowed sufficient time for liardening, is glued to the tympan in proper j)osition, and the die sheet is covered with one or two sheets of waxed tissue. Apply pressure slowly, and per- mit to stand until tlioroughly cooled. Work with light pressure, add- ing more as the wear x^'ogresses. TO EJVIBOSS POINTED JWflTTER. A simple method for embossing printed matter with the aid of Plastique is as follows : After the job is printed, stick two or three of the outer sheets of the tympan together with a little paste smeared between the sheets, at points Avhere the impression does not touch it, then take a well- inked impression from the form. Put the tympan in a horizontal position, and with a sharp knife, cut from the tympan sheet all traces of the ink, clean on the mar- gin of each letter. This makes a clean surface on which is to be laid with the ' ' tube ' ' neatly, Press Embossing Plastique. Being careful to lay on the i)r()i)er quantity, to and within the limits of each letter. It may be well in some instances, to flatten the design as described in another place. Take out the form and lock up in its place a block of hard wood, near tyjie high, on which, paste a die sheet, warmed to the propei* consistency, and a trifle larger than the space covered by the printing. This will serve as the 23 iivatrix of the die. Cover with a sheet of ^fWt9l^. tissue and iiiake tlie impression very slowly by hand poAver, and let the press re- main closed until the matrix is thoroughly cooled. If the construction of the press Avill not admit of jilacing the tym- pan in a horizontal position, the removal and return of the tynij)an sheet will be necessary and a care- ful adjustment or correction of the register. TlflT BLiOCKS. By the use of the Embossing Plastique sjjread on an electrotype base tint blocks of various unique designs may be made ''offhand,'' with great success. First clean the block well with alcoliol or strong vinegar, then 21 smear on tlie coiiqiosition. AA'heii dry, treat with a coat of shellac. PliASTIQUE SUPPliIES. It would be possible to instruct every user of Plastique in the pro- per prejDaration or indeijendent source of materials used. It would prove more injurious than bene- licial. Life is too short, time too valuable to beginners to attempt to improve at once on what is here- in ou'ered. AVe take a si)ecial x^ride in the success of all our x)atrons, and in this instance recommend tried ma- terials. They a.ie made as uniform in quality as only special facilities and long experience enable, and are afforded at reasonable prices. PfJICE-LiIST. PLASTIQUE SUPPLIES. Bulbs, each iucludiug several points aud probes assorted sizes, - - .50 Plastique Powder, white, per lb., .60 " " assorted colors, red, blue, greeu or yellow, each per lb., .To PiiEss Embossing Plastique Powder, per lb. - - - .75 13RONZES, gold, blue, green, red or silver, per ounce, - - - .20 Bromzks, assorted colors, six ounces, per package, - - - 1,00 Plastique Die Sheets. 5 X 7 inches, each, .75 perdoz., 6.00 7x10 " " 1.25 " " 11.00 10x14 " " 2.00 "3.^ " 10.00 20 ^■*^ %*'^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 963 894 3 ^