(This might be more appropriate in the 'History' forum)

Like many here I have an interest in the hard rubber materials used in pen manufacture. I have a couple and wondered how the endless chased patterns were achieved.

I'm sure they are hot rolled into the surface rather than actually chased by cutting, but there are never any signs of the start or finish of the process. Was a roller, longer than the length of the pen, cut with the pattern required and at a specific diameter to allow the pattern to be made seamlessly? The pattern cut on the roller will require the smooth areas for letter engraving etc.

Anyone really know?

I remember seeing, somewhere, a selection of common chased patterns used. Anyone rememebr where that might be?


Greg

I'm sure for many of the patterns it would have been done with a knurl. In the past much more knurling was done, and with more patterns, than at present. Machine shops have retreated to straight & diamond knurling, in three sizes. However in 1907 a book called 'Metalworking' by Paul N Hasluck was published (re-printed here http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks/hasluck/index.html). In it numerous decorative knurls are shown - all of which could be used for 'Chasing' BHR.

Regards

Richard.

If I recall- they would have a rolling mould or die that would be heated and they'd roll that on the surface of the hard rubber to get the chasing effect. It was meant to be done without adding much cost to the production of the pen. I believe

Richard Binder's website (www.richardspens.com) had a longer and better description of it last I checked. You might want to try that.

Here is the link to Richard's piece on Chased Hard Rubber

The rolling dies would be longer than the pen, and the stock would be thru fed with a slight opening and closing effect of the dies. The stock (cap or barrel) would be supported at the correct height between the rollers by a blade. The rollers would be offset at an angle to produce a pull effect to keep the pens feeding through the machine. Also, the rollers would most likely have a lead in area which was not the same diameter as the rest of the roller and tapered to effect a smooth lead into the rolling dies themselves. This area would be a little rougher than the rest to allow the rollers to grip the material as well.

In some cases due to the pattern there might not be any possibility to offset the rollers for a thru feed action. In this case the pens would be single fed into the machine and the rollers would be closed on it, spinning it only a few times then releasing pressure. This would be used where there were straight lines most likely.

Cheers,
Sean

Most of this information was gleaned by working in a thread rolling factory for about 5 years. I am not a rolling expert, but play one on TV.

Thank you very much. I recognised it was Richard's site I'd come across, thanks for the link.

With regard the rollers, as there are commonly areas left blank for the pen name and, perhpas, leter owner's engraving the rollers must be perfectly the same diameter or roll for one revolution to avoid over rolling the blank spaces.

Thanks you for this, my mind is still picturing it all!

I suppose my next question will be 'how did they make the pattern on the rollers?" The patterns are mechanically even but I can't imagine how they would be formed.


Greg

At the Ohio Pen Show a few years ago (I'm thinking 2004 show, could be a year off) there was a chasing machine on display in the metro room.

I should have looked closer that the mechanism. As I recall, it was cutting the pattern, and not using a rolling die as described in Richard's site. It would cut 1 line, index a few degrees, and be in position to cut the next pattern line.

It cut 6 pens at once, and there was a master pattern that determines the pattern being cut into the hard rubber.

I wanna say a guy by the name of Lynn had it on display, but I could be wrong.

Not at all saying Richard is wrong in his description of the process of chasing, but am suggesting there is atleast 1 other process of production.

Since Conway Stewart has produced a modern chased (celluloid) pen, it might also be interesting to ask them their process.

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hi there from a new member.

Coming from an engineering background I have always been under the impression that the chasing was done on a lathe and it is called 'Engine Turning' The lathe is equipped with cams in all directions.

I could be wrong and stand to be corrected but maybe someone else could do some research.

Regards

Saxman
Auckland, NZ

Lynn Sorgatz.

regards
david

I believe that the cutting process described above by bladysm is more analagous to guilloche engraving than chasing. Engine turning is not the same as what is produced on chased barrels either IIRC. Engine turning is actually a polishing technique which produces a fishcale pattern. Think Spirit of St. Louis look.

Take a look at a fresh or mint chased pen barrel and there is a lip on the outside of the chasing (very small) which is displaced material that has been rolled up over the major diameter of the barrel by the dies.

To accomplish a chasing pattern with an area for a logo, it would be done in one revolution. The dies for this are more expensive and the loading is by hand and not throughfeed. The pressures involved in single revolution rolling are higher as well, again based on my recollection.

For an image of the dies and a machine which would be capable of doing this kind of work, check out the attached link.

Kinefac Rolling equipment
I personally have purchased 4 of the MC-4 machines for a company that I used to work for, and installed them in NA and Asia. Believe me, these are the type of machines which did chasing in the past.

Cheers,
Sean