Does anyone have a picture of an old die that is “bound with iron”, such as used for medals in the e
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
I was reading the QDB/Jaeger book on Tokens and Medals, and there is a section called “The Art of Sinking Dies”. Part of the section contains an interview that George Lovett did for the New York Sun. Lovett was a die sinker and created his earliest dies in 1838.
The reporter asked Lovett if there had been any changes in methods over his years in the profession. Said Lovett,
“We formerly cut our dies on steel bound with iron, so that if the steel cracked, the iron would hold the pieces together. But since then the quality of steel has been greatly improved, so that the binding can be dispensed with.”
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Does anyone have a picture of these old dies that were bound with iron? I assume the iron was some sort of “collar” around the steel, but I am not sure. Also, what accounted for the changes in steel to increase its quality? Prior to the new, improved steel, were there many instances of cracked dies?
The reporter asked Lovett if there had been any changes in methods over his years in the profession. Said Lovett,
“We formerly cut our dies on steel bound with iron, so that if the steel cracked, the iron would hold the pieces together. But since then the quality of steel has been greatly improved, so that the binding can be dispensed with.”
*********
Does anyone have a picture of these old dies that were bound with iron? I assume the iron was some sort of “collar” around the steel, but I am not sure. Also, what accounted for the changes in steel to increase its quality? Prior to the new, improved steel, were there many instances of cracked dies?
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
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