ost readers of this writing will probably not remember the mimeograph and its close cousin, the ditto (or hectograph) machine, the copiers of choice before modern photocopiers (generically but incorrectly known as Xerox machines) became ubiquitous. Copying in a cyclostyling machine was done by placing a sheet of special stencil paper in a typewriter, setting a ribbon control to ‘stencil’ and typing what ever you wanted to copy. The stencil setting was necessary so that the typewriter keys made direct contact with the paper and actually cut through it instead of hitting the ribbon as it did in normal typing. Of course, you could also cut a stencil by hand, if you preferred. The finished stencil was placed on the mimeographs drum, the surface of which contained ink.

When the drum was turned with a hand crank, a blank sheet of paper was drawn in from the tray, pressed against the drum, where the ink came through the stencil and printed a copy and passed out the other side. Four names are associated with the early history of this technology. Thomas Edison, who invented an electric pen that cut stencils in 1876. Eugene Zucato, who came up with an improved method of cutting stencils the following year, David Gestetner, a Hungarian immigrant working in London, who came up with an even simpler and more effective stencil cutter in 1881 and A.B.Dick of Chicago, who came up with a devise similar to Edison’s and persuaded him to collaborate in marketing it as “The Edison Mimeograph”.

The technology had important impact on office procedures, small-scale publishing, education and many other fields. But rapidly, become obsolete in 1960’s. This Gestetner Rotary cyclostyle machine has two drums as against the initial single drum and the stencil was attached to the band around the two drums. The dual drum models were designed in the year 1901 and patented around 1909. Interestingly the mechanism was considered very sophisticated then. This Rotary Gestetner was manufactured in the year 1911 by D. Gestetner Ltd (No 102437), Cyclostyle works, Tottenham Hale, London N. The machine was brought to India by Gestetner India Ltd, officiating from 12, Crosvenor House, Old Court House Street, Calcutta.

This machine is said to have sailed to India as a special gift to Rao Sahib Dr. M. Abraham Pandither by one Mr. Harold Stuart on the occasion when Mr. Pandither formed the Tanjore Sangeeta Mahajama Sangam in 1912. One of the most applauded Indians of the time. A practical and highly successful agriculturist, who practiced excellent medicine. An industrialist of very high order and a musician of eloquence. Above all a great Indian and a philanthropist the world will remember for life.

His message to his country was very simple. “Be ever active and strive to do good”. Rao Sahib Dr. M Abraham Pandither was born on 31st July 1860 in the state of Travancore. Went to school in Tirunelveli, worked and lived in Tanjore and eventually initiated himself into the order of the yogis in Shuruli Hills near Madurai. With the invent of better and faster models the machine was donated to missionaries in the black town of the Madras Presidency who used it until the 1960s when it was condemned. It was later collected by Mr. Steve Borgia and restored and listed in his museum in 1998 at INDeco Hotels Mahabalipuram, a boutique hotel of INDeco Leisure Hotels.