Intertype C4 Restoration Project - videos

[Dave Hughes]

Wade Ambrose, from Illinois, USA, has recently acquired a c1950s Intertype C4, which was once a prominent feature in the Chicago Tribune's lobby. He intends to restore it to full working order and will be documenting the entire process on video.

I shall be bringing you the videos here on Metal Type. Wade's Youtube channel can be found here: Wade Ambrose.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW7w7s8HHow

This Intertype machine was used to set type for letterpress printing.    When invented in the 1880s, the Linotype was the most significant improvement to printing since Gutenberg developed moveable lead type in the 15th century.  This machine was responsible for making books, periodicals, and other printed materials affordable to average citizens.

The Intertype Corporation was started by some former employees of the Linotype Company after patents for the Linotype began to expire in 1913.  The two competing companies continued to manufacture line casting machines, largely unchanged from the original 1890s design, until the 1960s or 1970s.

This Intertype machine manufactured in 1955, was owned by Paddock Publications in Chicago Illinois.  After that, it was used as a display in the lobby of the Chicago Tribune printing facility.

This is the first in a series of videos that will document the restoration of this machine and return it operation.  He will cover cleaning and lubricating the machine, replacing belts, installing missing parts, adjustments, and rebuilding & replacing the crucible.  I will also have a video series on building a digital heat controller for the crucible and mouthpiece.

These machines are extremely complicated and I am far from an expert, so I will be leaning on information found in old books and advice from few people that still work on these machines.