How Paper Boxes Are Made / A practical and instructive book telling how the beginner may manufacture all kinds of paper boxes, with special chapters on the printing department for paper box plants, embossing, gold-leafing, label work, etc.

by Robert F. Salade

Another method of making the gold leaf hold firmly to the size is in running the wrappers through the printing press after the leaf has been laid. In this case, a quantity of blank sheets of news or book paper are essential. The wrapper containing gold leaf is again placed in the press, close to the feeding guides, and over the detail, or gold-leafed design, a sheet of the blank paper is spread. An impression of the form is then taken on the blank sheet, causing the gold leaf to press firmly to the size. This is said to be the best process for gold leafing with the aid of a platen press.

After running the gold-leafed sheets through the rollers of a clothes wringer, or for the second time through a printing press, in the manner described, loose portions of the gold leaf are rubbed off the sheets with a piece of raw cotton.

In gold leafing of this class, the wrappers are usually embossed after the gold leafing has been done, producing a beautiful effect with the detail of the subject standing up in bold relief.

EMBOSSING ON PLATEN PRESSES

Both hot and cold embossing can be done successfully on regular platen presses of the Hartford and John Thomson type, although there are special embossing presses made especially for the work.

Hartford Electric Embossing Plate Heater.

The National Machine Company, of Hartford, Conn., are making the “Hartford Electric Embossing Plate Heater,” which may be used on all styles of platen presses for hot embossing. As indicated by its name, the Hartford Electric Heater, while on the press, is heated by electric current supplied from the regular wiring system in the plant. The female die, or several female dies, are attached to the surface plate of the Hartford Electric Heater by means of Bunter-Post Registering Screws. By moving these screws, the die or number of dies may be placed in any position desired.

Hot (electric) embossing will produce more perfect effects than ordinary cold embossing, although cold embossing is good enough for the purpose of box wrappers in many instances.

It should be understood that the Hartford Electric Heater will do for both hot and cold embossing, as it is an excellent device for holding and registering embossing plates.