Help identify small H.B. Rouse piece
I recently picked up a type cabinet and it had a few of these little pieces in one of the drawers (see images). I have no idea what they are, if they’re from a press or something else. Each is marked ‘H.B Rouse & Co. Chicago, U.S.A.’ A few also say “Pat. Dec 3 1907.”
Any help identifying these would be greatly appreciated!
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US patent 872,685, “Registering Device,” issued 1907-12-03 to Harry B. Rouse (Chicago). Application filed 1903-06-26.
“My invention relates to spacing or registering devies for printer’s use and has for its object the provision of mechanism of this character that is adapted to accurately position or register adjacent plates and forms.”
Given the number, it’s easy to locate the patent’s specification, but for convenience here’s a PDF of it in temporary space:
www.galleyrack.com/temp/us-0872685-1907-12-03-rouse-registering-device.p...
Regards,
David M.
www.CircuitousRoot.com
To expand on the information our good Doctor has given, these are register quoins. You put them between furniture in your lockup with the round part facing one piece of furniture and the flat side facing the other. You use a pin in the series of holes around the perimeter of the disk to turn it and make the quoin expand or contract. By using a set of eight of them one can move their forme around and even slightly rotate it for fine registration control.
—
Michael Hurley
Titivilus Press
Memphis, TN
To expand on Michael’s comments: These are used in opposing pairs (hence a set of 8) loosen one side’s pair and then tighten the opposite side’s to relock the form.
I didn’t expect such a quick response, thanks so much everyone for helping me identify these!