Above Image Rights Holder: National Museums of Scotland

These are part of a set of specialist tools and cutters used in the firm of Aird and Coghill of Glasgow, Music Publishers and Engravers, specializing in the printing of piobaireachd music. They were used until 1972. See reference.

1. Burnisher
This is a burnisher used to engrave music. It was used for engraving details on a metal plate before engraving in new detail. It is oval in section with a pointed end set into a wooden handle.

2. Rastral (staff line cutter)
The rastral is used for marking the five lines of the musical staff onto the printing plate. It is made of metal with five ridges and a wooden handle. This is one of a set of specialist tools and cutters used in the firm of Aird and Coghill of Glasgow, Music Publishers and Engravers, specializing in the printing of piobaireachd music. It was used until 1972.

3. Compass
The compass was used for laying out the spacing for notes on the printing plate for setting out music. It is in the form of a pair of metal dividers held by a brass rivet.

4. Hammer
This hammer has a square sectioned curved steel head stamped "T-K" for striking punches on the lead alloy printing plate to create impressed notes.

5. Hammer
This hammer was used for evening up the surface of the lead alloy printing plate in music engraving. It has one disc-shaped end on the head and a long slender shaft.

6. Cutter
This cutter was used for engraving lines on the printing plate. 'P S Stubbs' is stamped on the blade.

7. Cutter
This cutter was used for engraving lines on the printing plate. It is made of metal and set into a wooden handle.

8. Cutter
This cutter was used for engraving lines on the printing plate. 'AJ Renard France' is stamped on the blade.

9. Treble Clef Punch
This is a treble clef punch of steel. It was used for punching the treble clef onto printing plates.

10. Two Music Metal Punches
These two punches were used to mark 'gracenotes'. One is stamped '2' and the other one is stamped '3'.

11. Slur Cutter
This slur cutter is made of steel and used for cutting slurs in on printing plate.

12. Three Music Punches
These three punches are made of steel. They were used to mark accidentals - the symbols of sharps, flats and naturals against the notes on the staff.