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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 2 of 2 1 2 flip that quoin! #66275 04/19/02 11:06 PM Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 10,543 Likes: 1 Worcester, MA W wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel W Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 10,543 Likes: 1 Worcester, MA 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. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: flip that quoin! #66276 04/21/02 12:39 AM Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,146 Northamptonshire, England Capital Kiwi Carpal Tunnel Capital Kiwi Carpal Tunnel Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,146 Northamptonshire, England 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 ... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: flip that quoin! #66277 04/21/02 01:22 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky I also have a whole handful of linotype space bands And, how much did you pay your movers, m'dear? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: flip that quoin! #66278 04/21/02 02:19 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 Sparteye Pooh-Bah Sparteye Pooh-Bah Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,773 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 Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: flip that quoin! #66279 04/25/02 10:30 PM Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 10,543 Likes: 1 Worcester, MA W wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel W Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 10,543 Likes: 1 Worcester, MA 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! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Page 2 of 2 1 2 Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,913 Posts229,334 Members9,182 Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011 Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV 9,182 Registered Users Who's Online Now 0 members (), 729 guests, and 2 robots. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 33 A C Bowden 17 ddrinnan 1 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 10,543 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,916 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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