Review - Dietzgen Master-Pro Drafting Set

[@googleaccount6761]

I have 3 sets from a 10 year period..and they have excellent quality.. highly precise

[@jasonbrentpresley]

They are not my favorite aesthetically, but excellent quality and precise.

[@Daedali1]

Jason, do you happen to have any know-how regarding how these cases were made? I'm a fan of drafting equipment, and have been somewhat obsessed with these sets, but I cannot find any information on how they were made. They seem to be designed pressboard slats, but again I can't find anything really about that aspect of their manufacturing online. Anything would help, I appreciate it.

[@jasonbrentpresley]

If you’re referring specifically to the Dietzgen set, the outside seems to be some type of hard plastic, but I’m not sure what constitutes the inside part that’s molded for the shape of the instruments. With other brands and other eras, it varies a lot. Some of the Riefler cases are wood covered in leather and others are a mystery.

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

From a vintage catalog it sounded like they could custom make cases on the fly. I think it's highly likely they have have a plug for each product shape. Might be heated or something to make permanent imprints in the foam before it is covered in velvet. Not sure how they get the velvet to form fit the foam though. Maybe it's part of the pressing process too.

[@Daedali1]

@@DKNguyen3.1415 that's good insight. I noticed though this Dietzgen set of my grandfather's is wood underneath (was expecting bakelite). Casemaking is kind of a lost art for consumer goods, it seems. If you look up people making custom old style hunting gun cases (jager style) is the closest I've found. Otherwise yeah foam cutting like you describe maybe with a heated die or now laser cutting is the easiest way. Might need to buy some junk drafting sets to dissect lol

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

@@Daedali1 You don't even need junk drafting sets. Pre-1960s drafting cases have cases so old the foam is peeling and you can see what is underneath.

[@Daedali1]

@@DKNguyen3.1415 mine must be older (or younger?) Sorry I only have three (dietzgen, two Soviet) and I'm making a lot of assumptions here.

[@Xymi12]

Whats with the tip that looks like clamps

[@lepus6511]

assuming you mean a tip like @ 5:30 ... it's an adjustable nib for ink. when you dip that tip in ink, the ink is suspended between the two legs. if you screw the legs closer together you get a thinner line, thread them apart and your line gets wider

[@jasonbrentpresley]

It’s called a ruling pen - a very old type of pen for making lines. I’ll make a video on them when I have time.

[@DavidStevenson-gw2eo]

The main ruling pen with the black handle has a quick opening sliding clip which opens the tines for easy of cleaning, the clip is also made from Nickel silver.