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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,713 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,713 Likes: 2 |
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.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
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 ...
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
I also have a whole handful of linotype space bands And, how much did you pay your movers, m'dear?
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,713 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,713 Likes: 2 |
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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