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Cutter, Slug

Object number92.53.4

Manufacturer The Chandler & Price Company

MediumIron; Steel; Other metals; Wood; Rubber; Paint; Electric motor

Credit LineGift of Estate of Thomas Pears III and Davis & Ward Inc.

DescriptionMachine to cut strips of lead to be used as spacers between lines of type.Dimensions61.9999 x 51.9999 x 61.9999 in. (157.5 x 132.1 x 157.5 cm)
Historical NotesThis specimen cutter was used to metal slugs to specific size. It was used at the Pears print shop.Label TextPrinters kept a variety of tools to both maintain and individualized their specimen collections. Among them are the cleaning container, (red can and scale next to small furniture cabinet) which was used to clean metal specimens, and the specimen cutter (left of large press) which was used to metal slugs to specific size. This belonged to Thomas Pear III, who inherited the business of printing from his father. Pear worked with Davis &Warde, Downtown Typographers and Printers in Pittsburgh, to produce over 100 fine and rare books. Pear started printing at age 14, when he wrote and published his own newspaper, “The Park Place Herald”. Pear confided to the Post-Gazette in an interview that favorite task was selecting a type face that most accurately conveyed the meaning of the words being printed. “Its future,” pear commented, “will only be for hobbyists, (and) museums…”

Previous owner Pears Print Shop

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