Anyone into mezzotint stipple roulettes?

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Anyone into mezzotint stipple roulettes?

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Anyone into mezzotint stipple roulettes? - 8/28/2009 5:50:48 AM

Hoppyscotch

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Joined: 11/16/2005
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Hi printmakers! I need help identifying some tools I bought on ebay - I thought I was bidding on watchmaker/engraving tools from a seller who didn't know what they were and the photo was washed out. Great chance for a deal, eh? Well, I was surprised... but not disappointed as I think these are "roulettes" used in mezzotint, stipple techniques, copperplate etched print making or something. I've been searching the internet trying to find out. Here is a link to a pdf found online of an 1882 article in the NY TIMES mentioning these "roulettes" - if that is what these are! The wheels are TINY... some offer textures, dot patterns, etc. I ran some over thin 0.002" copper just playing with them thinking maybe they are embossing tools... if anyone here knows anything about these, please share! I'd be most thankful just to know what they are.

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RE: Anyone into mezzotint stipple roulettes? - 8/28/2009 7:11:12 AM

GreenBiscuit

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From: Hanson, MA
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I bet Robin, Muriel, Lauren, Cel or several others will know. Give them time to wake, as the time zones are all over the place. Cool stuff!

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RE: Anyone into mezzotint stipple roulettes? - 8/28/2009 12:23:55 PM

toucanne

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From: Pahrump, Nevada
Status: online

Off the top of my head, I'd say they're engraving tools... but that would have to be confirmed.

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RE: Anyone into mezzotint stipple roulettes? - 8/28/2009 12:27:55 PM

toucanne

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Joined: 10/5/2005
From: Pahrump, Nevada
Status: online

Dragged out my old intaglio printing book, and there are etching roulettes, too. It's hard to tell in the photo, but the bottom one could be an irregular roulette, used to roughen the surface of the plate to obtain a deep black.

< Message edited by toucanne -- 8/28/2009 12:32:35 PM >

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RE: Anyone into mezzotint stipple roulettes? - 8/28/2009 6:34:13 PM

Robin47

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I take it the projections on the wheels are sticking out? There is a variation of those in jewelry work with a wheel tht has hollows in it that makes something called millgrain. It is used on the edges of box settings and ridges. Very old school and I haven't seen it used much.

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RE: Anyone into mezzotint stipple roulettes? - 8/29/2009 10:20:33 AM

podkaynestudios

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From: Louisville, KY
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I'm no help but that's a very interesting find. :)

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RE: Anyone into mezzotint stipple roulettes? - 9/2/2009 3:51:32 PM

Hoppyscotch

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Joined: 11/16/2005
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Thank you for all your replies! I do believe Toucanne was on the right path with her ideas as an old guy at my father's carving club seems to know what they are... dad laughed and told me that they were a "counterfieter's engraving set" used in some sort of acid etching engraving process, roulettes for highly skilled engravers to create the ultra fine lines and patterns on plates to print money and other documents. That makes sense with the wheels being so tiny. He thinks it might be a rare set from the 17 or 1800s, but I'm thinking more recent, like 18 or early 1900s because each has "FRANCE" stamped into the metal (hammer & punch stamped, not printed) as well as a number. I almost feel like I should not use them for alternate purposes. Well, thanks for scratching your minds with me!

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