Method of producing grouped symbols

In a method of producing identifiable symbols, arranged in a group in one piece free from any soldered connection therebetween, from a plate having a predetermined height, with the aid of a multiplicity of master symbols selected from a set of master symbols representing said arranged symbols, each master symbol having throughout its major portion a certain thickness, and each master symbol defining contours, and with the aid of a transfer mechanism and metal-removing mechanism for feeling said contours to transfer said contours substantially onto said plate while removing metal therefrom,

• the steps comprising,
• removing said metal portions throughout said height from said plate near the contours of each respective arranged symbol so as to define at least a substantial portion of each arranged symbol sufficient to identify the master symbol corresponding thereto, and
• providing selected of said master symbols with respective connective portions adjacent certain portions of the contour of the master symbols, and at least a portion of said connective portions comprises a thickness less than said certain thickness,
• removing selected metal portions from said plate from above to a certain depth smaller than said predetermined height between said arranged symbols so as to preserve connecting portions therebetween and between parts of said plate corresponding to a selected master symbol and any of its connective portions, thereby obtaining said group of arranged symbols in said one piece,
• at last some of the remaining parts of the predetermined height corresponding to said connective portions of said selected master symbols creating the appearance of bridging portions above said connecting portions and being separate from the corresponding adjacent arranged symbols, thereby partially masking said connecting portions.