Dave Seat's Linograph Project

[Dave Hughes]

It looks like Dave Seat, of Hot Metal Services has acquired a Linograph, complete with magazines and matrices, and is planning on restoring it back to working order.

From Facebook:

I would love to see one of these working! I would love to see some more pictures of the machine in the meantime, but haven't located any yet.

[Dave Hughes]

There is quite a comprehensive article on the history and development of the Linograph machine on Metal Type here: The Linograph



Intriguingly, Terry Foster included this snippet of info in the article he wrote:

An early Linograph machine, in working order but not having been operated for several years, is in the Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a gas-pot heated model.

[Dave Hughes]

I haven't seen an update on Dave Seat's project recently, but I'm keeping an eye out.

In the meantime, there seems to be another preserved Linograph at Kunstprenteverket - The Art Printworks in Norway.

They posted this teaser on Instagram recently:

View this post on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8zVMSPqdwQ/

These pictures give a great overview of the Print Works.

View this post on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9GJ9eOqkQv/

[Dave Hughes]

Great news. Dave has found some time in his busy schedule to take a look at the Linograph. Here's his update:

[Shoal Creek Press]

WAY TO GO! Thanks for the updates on this project.

[Dave Hughes]

Some more great pics (and video this time) - we see the magazine-changing mechanism which is unlike any linecaster I've ever seen, and the machine "cycling."

[Dave Hughes]

Looks like Dave's made some great progress. I've got to say that the machine's second elevator looks somehow neater than the familiar Lino/Inter version!

https://www.facebook.com/100040289893095/videos/897070508667967/

[realdougwilson]

@Dave Hughes Thank you for re-posting the videos to this thread. For those of us that don't have Facebook (me), it blocks me from seeing anything after a few images (which is frustrating!).

[Dave Hughes]

Thanks @realdougwilson I've always found Facebook to be an unsatisfactory platform, but I joined quite recently.

There's a big letterpress contingent on there, but I still find it difficult to find stuff, etc. They also make it quite tricky to share items, apart from just linking to it.

As with a lot of things in this world, being popular doesn't always mean that it is good.

[Dave Hughes]

Taken from the October 1922 edition of the "Inland Printer" -  advertisements for the Linograph:

[Cardinal]

Wow, thanks so much. I've only heard about the Linograph. This is Dave Swaney, son of Bob, who is son of Dorothy Peterson Swaney, who was daughter of Hans Peterson. I'll have to pass this along.

[Dave Hughes]

Glad you found it interesting @Cardinal - I'm sure your family will also find it interesting.

It would be nice to see one of these rare machines restored to working order.