Post by Perfs14 on Aug 7, 2013 19:56:36 GMT -5
From Krash101
-It was because the perforations sizes of the time were usually very small and unstable. they used all sorts of different methods (which we will discuss later) and odd gauges like 14, 16,even 18 but this caused many problems, mainly the stamps just would break away prematurely from the sheet and postmasters had a fit and wrote many letters to the government about it!
A solution was needed. If the perforations was to large the stamps would be ripped and torn and a lot of wasted postage stamps were the result but, if they was too small they would fall apart in shipping or in ones pocketbook and/or desk and was messy. The answer was the compound perforation!
The small perforations one way would allow for easy separation while the larger perforations would provide strength to the sheet.
There were 4 main ways to perforate stamps:
There was:
the COMB
the GUILLOTINE
the HARROW
the ROTARY
As well as a few more I will get into later on in the report-
please bear with me
(pun intended) clown
Please allow me to elaborate a bit wont you?
First a little history on the subject- An Irishman named Henry Archer, who in 1847 invented the first method of separating stamps by what is known as the roulette process. A time later, he improved on this with a new invention which made small holes all around the stamps which, of course, are known to us as perforations. Roulette-ing didn't remove any paper from the stamps sheets but rather only made a series of incisions.
COMB perforater was a means of punching the top and all vertical perforation holes of one or more rows of stamps at a time. This is continued until all rows are punched. The top row punched will automatically provide the bottom row for the preceding row. A last extra punch will be required to put the bottom holes on the last row with the vertical perforations going through the lower margin of the sheet down to the bottom whereas the newer comb perforator machine perforates two rows "per stroke".
GUILLOTINE perforator is a machine that makes only single line perforations. To distinguish line perforations from comb perforations the collector must look at the corners of the stamp. In a comb perforation the holes are separated from one another whereas in line perforations the holes may go over each other where the horizontal and vertical perforations converge.
HARROW perforator Perforates at one time an entire sheet (4 panes of 100 subjects each)
ROTARY perforator A process of making perforations in sheets or rolls by revolving wheels. This is operated first in one direction and then the other direction.
INTERRUPTED perforations or SYNCOPATED perforations Caused by some of the punches of the comb being broken or missing. The removal of some of the perforation blades of the comb may be deliberate in order to overcome weakness of some papers. This is also purposely done to thwart counterfeiting operations like the modern day Machin.
MISPLACED perforations are when the perforations pass through the wrong part of the stamp causing an error/freak
PIN or SEWING MACHINE perforations also known as PERCÈ EN POINTS. These are in reality just a type of roulette as the paper is only pierced and no material is removed.
SQUARE perforations are small square holes usually close together as compared to the normal round holes. Usually from private companies like Schermack stamp vendor machines is a good example.
PRIVATE perforations or private perforations were not official but were done by private entities for use in their stamp vending machines (see the above post)
HYPHEN HOLE perforations are long rectangular shaped and resemble a hyphen and normally found on United States revenue stamps and no paper is removed hence a relation to the roulette
Perce`Is a French term adopted to describe the different kinds and styles of roulettes but can also mean perforation so this can be confusing if your not French...
ARC ROULETTE Are roulettes in the shape of an arc or semi-circle.
DIAMOND ROULETTE or LOZENGE these are simply roulettes in rows and shapes of XXXX and usually resembling diamonds or lozenges.
LINE Roulette (most common type) Are simply put Roulettes in a series of straight cuts
OBLIQUE ROULETTE Roulettes with short parallel slanting incisions.
PIN ROULETTE Also incorrectly notated as "pin perforations" or sewing machine perforations but are actually point-pierced but with no paper removed
ROULETTE-IN-COLOR This is accomplished during the printing of stamps. The incisions are made into the paper by the use of a sharp edge and deeper penetrating part of the printing plate which also inks the cuts at the same time the stamps are made.
Since that is a tough one to visualize I visualize it for you via a friend (on another board) stamp sheet (he specializes in India stuff)
Note:
Although on this particular sheet the perfs aren't inked they are, however exactly the same otherwise.
SAWTOOTH ROULETTE the cuts resemble the teeth of a saw. The teeth form triangles compared to the rounded edged of the serpentine roulette that we haven't discussed yet.
SERPENTINE ROULETTE Cuts of this shape are shaped in high curved wavy lines, of sinuous winding form like a serpent, hence the name. I thought that interesting enough to share...
SEWING MACHINE ROULETTE Although have in fact made by the means of an actual sewing machine! Most of the so-described sewing machine roulettes, though, are incorrect and in reality pin rouletted.
Examples of actual sewing machine perforations I listed below:
(Tibet 1933 issue, Some of the United States Second issue Revenue stamps and Columbia 1902-03 Barranquilla issues)
Schermack/ private perforation example
Line serrated serpentine & Perce` en arc
Common, the lozenge, the square, the hyphen hole & the sewing machine perforations
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Post Craig. A great refresher course. 
