I thought it was about the bartender on Cheers.
Here’s an article describing how this feat was achieved in 1935, using high-precision pantographic engraving equipment.
(Click on the pages for readable versions.)
Thanks for finding that, Larry. I was sure I’d read that same pamphlet back in the 60’s, and had been combing the internet for it. I think my grandfather, a tool-and-die maker, originally showed it to me when I was a youngster.
Qadgop So you haven’t been treating any forgers with mysterios eye problems?
That’s a great article. Note that it describes the Lord’s Prayer engraved on an area the size of the point of a pin, not the head. This was an area 0.005" in diameter. The article said that at that scale the entire Bible could be engraved in an area 1/2" X 3/8".
Larry Mudd
That is very impressive especially when you consider that was done 70 years ago.
That article does mention that the Lord’s Prayer had been previously engraved on the head of a pin, but that pales in comparison to doing that on the point of a pin. The article fails to mention the name of the “head of a pin” engraver. It was probably another machine shop as opposed to being the work of a 19th century prisoner.