| Early table top office printing equipment was a | | | | slate top of the box, the frame was opened up |
| device built as a wooden box, this box was | | | | to allow a piece of paper to be placed on the |
| slightly larger than the size of paper known as | | | | slate top, the frame was closed on the paper, |
| foolscap, the box was fitted with a slate top, | | | | and then by using a roller which had a handle |
| onto the side of the box was a hinged frame, | | | | attached the roller was covered with a felt |
| stretched across the hinged frame was a silk | | | | material the width of the foolscap paper, the |
| screen material the size of the foolscap paper. | | | | method was to sparingly roll the roller in a tray of |
| Paper covered with a thin wax the size of the | | | | ink .the roller would be then be used to transfer |
| foolscap screen was designed which became a | | | | the ink to the silk screen by rolling the roller inside |
| stencil and by using a metal pencil style sharp | | | | the frame, the silk screen regulated the ink by |
| point known as a stylus one could draw or write, | | | | pressure, ink would be forced through the |
| later with the advent of the typewriter, by | | | | displaced particles of the waxed paper master |
| dismantling the ribbon, the stencil could be typed | | | | sheet onto the paper, thus giving an identical |
| on the waxed paper, by using the sharp stylus it | | | | copy( facsimile) of the waxed paper drawings or |
| would displace the particles of wax and paper to | | | | writing. By opening the hinged frame and |
| the writing or drawing this became the master | | | | repeating the procedure as many copies of the |
| sheet, this master sheet was attached face down | | | | facsimile could be produced. This entire process |
| onto the silk screen frame which was in the open | | | | was accomplished well before the invention of ink |
| position so when closed would be abutting the | | | | cartridges or toner cartridges. |