A Gestetner works as a stencil-method duplicator, allowing users to rapidly produce multiple copies of a document by forcing ink through a prepared stencil onto paper.
The Core Principle of Duplication
At its heart, the Gestetner duplicator, like the Gestetner Cyclograph, relies on the mimeograph process. This involves creating a master stencil from which numerous identical copies can be made. The brilliance lies in its simplicity and effectiveness for office and educational use before the advent of modern photocopiers.
Step-by-Step Operation of a Gestetner
The process can be broken down into two main phases: stencil creation and the duplication process itself.
1. Creating the Stencil
The first crucial step is to prepare the master stencil, which will dictate what gets printed.
- Material: The stencil is made from a thin sheet of paper, typically coated with wax. Historically, thin materials like kite paper were used for this purpose.
- Preparation: To create the original text or image on the stencil, a special stylus is used. As the stylus is written or drawn across the stencil, it leaves a broken line by removing the wax coating in that specific area. This action creates tiny, ink-permeable perforations in the stencil wherever the wax is removed.
- Result: The areas where the wax remains are impermeable to ink, while the "broken lines" (perforations) allow ink to pass through.
2. The Duplication Process
Once the stencil is prepared, it's mounted onto the duplicator machine.
- Mounting the Stencil: The prepared stencil sheet is attached to an inked drum within the Gestetner machine. The drum typically contains a porous pad saturated with oil-based ink.
- Ink Transfer: As the drum rotates, ink is pressed from the inside of the drum outwards, through the porous pad, and then through the perforations in the attached stencil.
- Paper Feed: A sheet of paper is fed automatically or manually under the rotating drum.
- Impression: As the ink passes through the stencil's perforations, it transfers onto the paper, creating a single copy of the original document.
- Repetition: This process repeats for each sheet of paper, allowing for the rapid production of many copies.
Key Components
Understanding the core components helps visualize the Gestetner's operation:
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Stencil | A wax-coated sheet that, once perforated, acts as the printing master. |
| Stylus | A specialized writing tool used to create perforations in the stencil. |
| Inked Drum | A rotating cylinder containing an ink-saturated pad. |
| Ink | Oil-based ink designed to pass through the stencil. |
| Paper Feed | Mechanism to draw blank sheets of paper under the drum. |
| Pressure Roller | Applies pressure to ensure proper ink transfer to the paper. |
Why it was Used
Gestetner machines were invaluable for offices, schools, and organizations needing to produce dozens or hundreds of copies quickly and economically before the widespread availability of photocopying technology. They were simpler and often cheaper to operate for specific tasks than early photocopiers, making them a staple in many administrative environments.
