The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 48, November 26, 2006, Article 19

MORE ON DYE VS DIE TERMINOLOGY

Nick Graver writes: "In the spirit of keeping published information
as accurate as possible, please consider these thoughts on Dick's
interesting account of the "Dye/Die" terminology as misused in
Waterbury, CT.

In the daguerreotype (first practical photographic) process, there
is no "print," the image is recorded directly on a sensitized highly
polished silvered plate.  Dick's term "strip" of metal might better
be described as rectangular sheet of metal, usually silver-plated
copper.

Cases for daguerreotype images were made of many materials, frequently
wood covered with leather or papier-mache.  Dick was describing the
fanciest type: "Union" cases which were Thermoplastic, one of the
first commercial uses of plastic.  They are often mistakenly called
'gutta-percha', which is a rubbery substance derived from tropical
trees.

These two clarifications are only intended to strengthen Dick's
fine account of the misuse of numismatic terms in the mainstream
press."

Dick Johnson writes: "I stand by the use of the term "strip"
(instead of "sheet") in the dauguerreotype process. Even when it
is silverplated it is still a strip.  Reason:  it is rolled to form
the thin metal in the early part of the process.

Perhaps I should have used the term "thermoplastic" for their
composition, instead of gutta-percha. So Nick was correct in
catching this."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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