Messinstrumente – historische und moderne Seismographen – wo kommt das Rußpapier her?

Smoked paper

this is how we create the analog data carrier for seismic recordings ourselves

Measuring instruments / Production of smoked paper

Smoked paper – we produce it ourselves

The needles of the busy historical seismographs, which have been reliably recording seismic movements for more than 100 years, strike over smoked paper as ever. This cannot just be bought in the stationery shop round the corner, but needs to be produced individually.

After all, smoked paper is our reliable data carrier that has been precisely “noting down” all seismic movements of the fine needles, thanks to the sophisticated mechanism – in white and black, from the very beginning, without any interruptions (except during maintenance work).

To produce smoked paper, we have a chamber that is equipped with a petroleum burner, self-produced rolls of paper and, of course, a fire extinguisher. The production of smoked paper requires some skill and craftsmanship.

In summer 2012, we had a special guest, Irish artist Siobhan McDonald. Having seen us on the Internet, she became curious and visited us in August 2012. She had the production of smoked paper shown to her to subsequently use it for her artistic projects. You can find more information here.

Vorbereitung Rußpapier
Preparation of the smoked paper
Preparation of the smoked paper
Smoked paper production
Smoked paper production
Smoked paper - we make it ourselves
Smoked paper - we make it ourselves