dupliceringsapparater

Dupliceringsapparater, often referred to as duplicators, are machines designed to make multiple copies of original documents. Historically, these devices played a crucial role in offices and educational institutions before the widespread adoption of photocopiers and digital printing. Early forms of duplicators relied on stencil technology.

One of the most common types was the mimeograph machine. In this process, a stencil, typically made of waxed paper, was placed on a drum. The stencil had tiny holes punched through it, corresponding to the text or images to be duplicated. Ink would then be forced through these holes onto blank paper fed beneath the drum, creating copies. Another type was the spirit duplicator, also known as a ditto machine. This method used a special carbon paper to transfer ink onto a master sheet. When copies were made, a solvent, usually alcohol-based, would transfer a thin layer of ink from the master sheet to each piece of paper.

Duplicators were valued for their ability to produce a relatively large number of copies quickly and cheaply compared to older methods like handwriting or early printing presses. While largely superseded by modern copying technology, they represent an important step in the evolution of document reproduction. Their simplicity and cost-effectiveness made them accessible for many organizations.