Ideal Stencil Cutters

The Typewriter of Stencil Cutting

The Ideal Stencil Cutting Machines were quite something compared to the machines from Bradley, Diagraph and Marsh. They were also called the «typewriters» of stencilling.

Note: The first Bradley stencil machines (Long Bradley) were also advertised as shipping department typewriters. Of course, the type of a Bradley stencil machine looks more like a typewriter typeface.

The oil board was clamped on a movable carriage, similar to a typewriter. These machines were built with automatic attachments, having an automatic carriage that grips and spaces the oil board during operation and returns it to its starting point after each line is cut.

The Ideal machines were advertised for the production of perfectly straight letters and parallel lines of text. These features should also lead to a better use of the oil board space, thus saving costs.

Videos about Ideal Stencil Machines

Youtube playlist: Ideal Stencil Machines

Operation of the Machine

The operation of the machine is very simple. The line spacing lever, the upright lever on the front of the machine, is turned to the right and the carriage is pulled out, then the lever is turned to the left. The release lever, located on the top of the round part just to the left of the line spacing lever, is pressed against the stop and the gripper carriage, the long notched bar near the front of the machine, moves to the right of the machine to its starting point. The handle on this carriage is then pressed down and the oil board is placed underneath.

The hand wheel surrounding the dial is then turned either to the right or left and the pointer moves to the characters on the dial, which is set at a 45-degree angle. When the pointer reaches the character to be cut, the handle on the right side of the machine is pressed down with enough force to cut through the oil board and then pulled back into position.

To space between words, the spacer is pushed up and the handle is pushed down, then both are released and the handle is pulled back into position.

When the first line is cut, the line spacing lever is pressed to the right and the carriage advances one line, then the release lever is pressed against the stop and the gripper returns to its starting position and the second line can be cut. When the last line has been cut, the handle of the gripper is pressed down and the stencil is removed.

Model Overview

Oilboard (Stencilboard) Sizes

Ideal No.1

1" stencil size

1913

Depending on production time, model No.1 comes in different versions. It is the oldest, the core model of all the machines that followed. The color of certain machine parts also changed. It depended on the production time and the customer. Early machines were black with some gilding on it. About after 1920 the gilding was omitted. Later models often have a dark gray or green body with a red dial and red handle.

NSN Code: 7490-01-240-8291

• size: 23" x 21" x 13"
• weight: 120 punds

1. image: very early 1913 model No.1, antique carriage unit
2. image: very early 1913 model No.1, illustration, antique carriage unit
3. image: model No.1 from the 1920s on
4. image: later model No.1 , circa 1950s
5. image: later model No.1 , 1968