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#66275 04/19/02 11:06 PM
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both groin and quoin are wedges...quoins are corner
blocks-- wedges of different sort


(also "coign")

Additional meaning: in the Good Old Days, when type was set by hand out of the California Job Case, the block of carefully-ordered type was placed into a form (the "chase"), the rest of the space filled out with blocks, and then the whole page was firmly fixed in place by tightening wedge-shaped pieces against each other, one set horizontal and another vertical, to use up any remaining space. The wedges were called - you guessed it - quoins, and the gadget used to do the final tightening was a "quoin key."

(And if you were so unfortunate as to drop the form before it was rigid, everything fell apart - the type was now "pied" - and you had to start all over again, and you were QUITE unhappy about all that wasted effort.)

If I can find a URL for the quoin, I'll add it on.

edit: Durn. Lots of places with words to describe the process, but I couldn't find one with a picture.

#66276 04/21/02 12:39 AM
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I have a quoin key somewhere. All metal type was set in chases on stones, regardless of whether it was hand or machine set. I should know ...

I also have a whole handful of linotype space bands, if anyone's interested!



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#66277 04/21/02 01:22 AM
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I also have a whole handful of linotype space bands And, how much did you pay your movers, m'dear?


#66278 04/21/02 02:19 PM
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#66279 04/25/02 10:30 PM
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A photo of a quoin key:
http://users.bestweb.net/~bpress/press/tools1.html
And a photo of one in use:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?X57152BB


You got it :-) And the kids are just about the right age, too. Thanks for refreshing the memories!


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