Another Cubs Mystery Item

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Basically it was the mock up that they photographed to make the pins.

[steve B]

Scott has the short version.


The longer one is that the piece you have would have been photographed using a very large format camera. The one at the shop I worked for was built into the wall of a room, and could take negatives up to maybe 24x35 inches?

For pictures they'd use a screen in between the lens and film, to make the dot pattern (Halftone) The camera could be adjusted to make the image size whatever was needed - within reason.

those negatives were then used to make a "mask" basically a big negative made from multiple small ones, or possibly in this case, they just used the negative


Then they'd expose and develop the printing plate using the negative.


A few quick checks, to be sure it came out right, and it's off to the pressroom to be printed.


Eventually, they'd cut out the circles, and press the pins together.

[smitti8]

Scott & Steve, thank you both for sharing your knowledge here. I certainly love most prewar issues and have always wondered just exactly how some of those iconic images made their way onto the finished product we all collect ! Having this piece in hand only piqued that curiosity more so again many, many thanks for helping educate a novice !