b"All images: A. RichterComet Die & Engraving is a family-owned moldmaker with an extensive history.By Alan Richter slightly larger share of the company. When they divvied the weekly profit, that majority interest en-I ts rare that a U.S. mold builder is still in the handsabled the partner to keep the final dollar if they of the same family after 122 years. Actually, itsearned an odd number of dollars. Eventually, Salg impressive that any precision parts manufacturerpurchased the majority share and pocketed those is still in existence after that many years. Foundeddollars instead.in 1898 by Jacob Honest Jake Salg, Comet DieIn the beginning, they sculpted brass with chis-& Engraving Co. is now run by the founder's great- els and hammers to make embossing dies, which grandsons Michael Donlin, who is vice president,were frequently used for texturing leather-bound and T.J. Donlin, the companys president. books. They were hand engravers, T.J. Donlin Company legend has it that Salg foundedsaid, adding that the company eventually moved Comet in St. Louis with a partner who held ato Chicago and continued to produce brass 38MARCH 2020 Moldmaking.indd 38 2/14/20 3:38 PM"