1930s NZ Print Advertisemnt

[Dave Hughes]

Regular contributor to the site Graeme How recently sent in this 1930s advertisement for New Zealand General Printers Whitcombe and Tombs.



It's on the main site here: Whitcombe & Tombs, NZ, Advertisement

[Mechanic]

Here is a challenge. Identify the Linotype model in the advertisement

[Dave Hughes]

That sounds like a real challenge George.

Do you have a definitive answer?

[Dave Hughes]

OK, So I'm guessing that as the machine is in New Zealand it will be an English model.

[Mechanic]

All Linotypes in Australia and New Zealand prior to the end of WW2, were manufactured in the USA. Then preferred trade agreement with England made purchases from the USA prohibitive. Because the Sydney Morning Herald had close to 100 Linotypes made in the USA Linotype & Machinery made modifications to magazines so they could be interchangeable with American machines.

[printsmurf]

Here is a challenge. Identify the Linotype model in the advertisement

I haven't a clue what Linotype machine this is but I love the advertisement.

[Mechanic]

It is a model 9 Linotype. A four magazine machine that could have matrices from the four magazines in one line. It was never manufactured in England.

[Dave Hughes]

Thanks for that George. I still don't know how you managed to recognise the model from the very small picture on the advert!

There is, of course, more information on the Model 9 on the main Metal Type site here: Linotype Model 9

[Mechanic]

I started working as an apprentice Linotype mechanic in 1949. I went to Canada on a working holiday. I got a job with Canadian Linotype and stayed for 15 years. I never got to work on the Blower Linotype but I think I've worked on most of the other machines. I even worked on a Russian Linotype mixer. At the printer of the Communist newspaper in Toronto. So I can recognise most American models.