Impressions by Laurie

Laurie's speciality is operating a Pantograph (traditional type setting) allowing for a wide variety of metals and items to be engraved. Please call or e-mail for a quote! Expertise:

Jewellery & Gift Engraving – including but not limited to: inside rings & braclets, charms, watches, pens, trays, goblets and steins. Laurie owns the largest pantograph enabling her to work on anything from a car bumper and 7' bar bell to large bowls and trays. Large Item Engraving – We are able to engrave oversized and larger items; examples silver trays over 12 inches and bowls over 6 inches. Rings & Bracelet Engraving – Special expertise is required to engrave on the inside of rings and bracelets. Rest assured we have the experience required to produce a top quality product for you. Pantograph Engraving – The pantograph engraving machine was invented in the late 1930s. As an Artist, we prefer to use this manual device versus the newer computerized laser devices. A Brief History of Pantograph Engraving Machines

From the late 1930’s into the late 1970’s, the pantograph engraving machine was the only type of engraving machine available on the market. The New Hermes was invented in 1938 by Norbert Schimmel and marketed worldwide 2 years later by Gravograph. The first major application of the pantograph was engraving fountain pens for F.W. Woolworth Company. The second major application for the pantograph was for the New York City Board of Education during World War II, who needed plastic dog tags for every child in New York City. After WWII, the pantograph engraving machines were sold to jewellery stores across North America for engraving such items as pens, watches, lockets, etc. In 1982 computerized engravers were commercialized, revolutionizing the recognition industry. Today manual pantograph engraving machines are still used for many applications, including jewellery engraving, speciality applications, electrical ID tags, dog tags. (History courtesy of GRAVOGRAPH)