STRETCHED LINER

[Mechanic]

STRETCHED LINER
Have you ever been in position where you wanted cast a shorter measure than you had liners for. When I was an apprentice I was asked by a Linotype operator to produce a liner to cast such a measure. I told him sorry I didn't have a liner to cast the measure he wanted nor did I have any stock that I could use to cut a liner. He told me to bring him a hacksaw and a liner closest to the required measure. I did this and he took me, hacksaw and liner to a vice behind the Linotypes that I use to clean the plungers. He said now cut the liner in half and cut a V in each half. Now get a piece of 6pt Elrod material and cut it to the measure I require. I did as I was told. He then told me to put the left hand end of the liner in the end where it belonged, put the 6pt Elrod against the right hand line put the cut off piece against 6pt Elrod. Tighten the mold cap, take the Elrod material out and cast a line.
Now 65 years later this problem came up at Pimpama. Confidently I said, "I know what to do." Problem was I couldn't find a liner the thickness I required.