CWGC headstones

[Allan1892]

Can anyone tell me when the CWGC started to erect Portland stone headstones?

[caulkheader]

In ‘Remembered’. The history of the the CWGC it states;  (abridged)

 

’But there remained the problem of how to engrave the badges.

              Then a Lancashire firm invented a pantograph machine.

                            . . . . . enabling the company to make 50,000 stones in the first five years.

Between 1920 & 1923, more than 4,000 headstones were shipped to France each week.

 

Not definitive, but hope that helps.

T

[Allan1892]

Many thanks for your reply, I thought that it may have been late 1919 but wasn't sure.

[mancpal]

Interesting topic, I wonder if any photos of the 'pantograph machine' exist. The principle I understand though I'd love to see the original

 

Simon

[NigelS]

A CWGC newsletter shows examples of wooden templates - which it now holds - that were used, but not the pantograph (later incisograph) machines https://mailchi.mp/cwgc.org/welcome-to-the-cwgc-newsletter?e=32a14ef168

 

NigelS

[303man]

A Lancashire firm invented (used in the book not my word) a pantograph machine the company made 50,000 headstones in the first 5 years between 1920 and 1923 more than 4000 headstones per week were being shipped to France. The pantographs with skilled operators could produce 3 headstones per day, the modern incisorgraph 10 per day. Page 28 of the Book Remembered by Julie Summers has a picture of a row of pantographs being used in the Lancashire Factory. ISBN 9781858943749

[Allan1892]

NigelS - thank you for the link, very interesting to see the wooden templates.