Alameda High School - Acorn Yearbook (Alameda, CA)

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Mrs. Partch Explains the Time Savers’”’ hid) hes remaining part of this period will be devoted to the explanation . of some of the time savers which have recently been added to our department. Every large up-to-date business house has one or more of these common office appliances, such as the typewriter, adding machine, mimeograph, multigraph, and dictaphone. “The mimeograph is used in connection with the typewriter. It is a device for making copies from an original copy, which is a stencil. The stencil may be either a wax one, which can be used but once, or a perma- nent (dermatype) stencil, which can be saved and used again for more copies. The wax stencil has a stiff backing sheet, a tissue sheet on top to keep the wax from adhering to the type, and a silk sheet placed under the wax to catch the wax cut out by the type. This is placed in the type- writer and typed on without the ribbon. It is better not to make mistakes because very often they are difficult to correct. The mimeograph is inked and the stencil placed smoothly in position. For this work we usually use mimeograph paper which is laid on the left-hand side and is fed to the machine either by hand or by the self-feeder attachment. You see the ink on the cylinder goes through the impressions on the stencil and prints on the paper. Hundreds of copies can be made by this machine.” “But what are those numbers under this glass when he turns the handle?” “That registers the number of revolutions of the cylinder; in other words, counts the number of copies.” “This machine is a multigraph. We use this rather than the mimeo- graph when the copy is to be printed on letterheads and when a very large number of copies are needed. It is rather slow work to set up a letter on the multigraph, as each letter and space is placed on separately; but time is gained when the copies are printed. An inking device is attached to the machine after the type is set; and this handle is turned to pass the paper through. The work of this machine looks more like printing than does the mimeograph. You will notice this machine also has the attach- ment for counting the copies. “This period is now at an end, but I think we have accomplished a great deal if we begin to know the use of the appliances we have here for office work.” —Ruby Lindberg.

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To Make a Copper Bowl ee Y ILL you show me how to make a copper bowl, Miss Abernethy ?” “Have you some sixteen-gauge metal?” “Yes, I have a piece eight inches square.” “Very well. Cut a circle of that diameter. Weigh the copper and you will find that it weighs about two pounds, which, at the present rate, will make the bowl cost eighty cents.” “Is not this metal too heavy for a bowl?” “No. An article requiring so much hammering needs metal a sixteenth of an inch thick on account of the great stretch it undergoes. Now, take the egg-shaped anvil, fasten it in the vise and hold your circle over the anvil, beating the metal downward over the curved edge with this wooden mallet.” “What am I to do with the fullness that comes around the rim?” “Oh, that will disappear. Now it is necessary for you to heat your metal, place it over a sandbag and beat on the inside of the bowl with this long-necked hammer.” “Well, Miss Abernathy, this is a good hour’s work. The making of a bowl is a long process, is it not?” “Yes, it takes more physical strength than any other problem. You see the fullness is beginning to disappear now. I think it would be well to anneal the bowl, making it red hot with the flame. This is necessary to expand the pores of the metal to make it soft. Much hammering always hardens the metal.” “The bowl is coming into shape nicely, but it looks rather rough and uneven.” “The symmetry and color will be produced by surfacing with this planch- ing hammer, which you notice has a slightly domed end. Now invert the bow] again over the egg-shaped anvil, and, starting on the edge, hammer as rhythmically as possible around the bowl in regular circles.” “I notice that the hammering is giving the bowl a rich color.” “Yes, sometimes rouge is rubbed on, giving it a reddish brown appear- ance; but, in time, copper will turn brown without artificial color.” “Is there to be no ornament on this shallow bowl when I finish it?” “The charm of the bowl lies in its proportions and simplicity. Although it is possible for you to rivet some handles on, or to rivet or solder a design around the top edge, or to emboss a pattern if the bowl is large enough.” This requires hammering on the inside with an embossing tool, but it is not practicable on such a small article as yours.” “Metal work is fascinating, isn’t it, Miss Abernethy ?” “When the pupil sees the material result of his original ideas, he is always interested.” Geraldine Traphagen.