Steve,
thanks for the link. Should have thought of that !!!
Access to the technology & using multiple moulds would speed up production of virtually perfect copies, including wear & faults?
That leaves us with metal quality & attachments (sliders,etc) as the only ways of distinguishing a copy, by this process, it would seem. If an origional is used for each set of moulds,that is. Though copies of copies would probably deteriorate over time. As some seem to do, much like a worn Die would do also.
Cheers !
Steve