This photo of a Presto disc-cutting machine in a BBC recording channel at Bush House was taken on August 16th 1962. It was popularly believed that some of our Prestos came over under the wartime lend-lease system whereby America helped Britain during the Second World War, prior to its own involvement after Pearl Harbour - I don't know for sure whether this is true. The cutter head can be seen to the right of the central spindle, moving along a lead screw. The crank handle on the right end of this is turned to increase the speed at which the head moves across the disk, for scrolls between items and the run-out at the end. The microscope is for examining the gooves to adust the depth of cut. The tube running from above the head and to the right sucks the swarf (off-cut) away and into a safe bin (as the entry linked to this picture tells, it's highly inflammable). |
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