Historical Archives - Metal Type

1953 Recruitment Ads

Thanks to Graeme Howe for sending in these recruitment ads, from the end of 1953.

I would imagine in those days the first one to apply would get the job, and earn enough money to live on. How times have changed!

British Print Trade Union Cards 1924-1945

Many thanks to Chris Greenhill for sending in his grandfather’s collection of British Print Trade Union membership cards.

His grandfather Joseph Henry Davis was born in 1884 and entered the print industry at the age of 14. You can read more about his career in London and view his indenture document here: 1898 Indentures. Read the Full Article . . .

1898 Indentures

Indenture document from 1891 — The Indenture document of Joseph Henry Davis (b1884) who began a 6 year apprenticeship with John White of Sugar Loaf Court, Garlick Hill, London in 1898, aged 14 years.

Many thanks to Chris Greenhill for sending in details of his grandfather’s long career in the print industry, along with his Indenture document, which was signed in 1898.

Chris says: “I gleaned the following from my grandfather’s last surviving daughter, my aunt. Read the Full Article . . .

William Caxton Quincentenary

Many thanks to Mike Wilson for sending in this picture of a poster that he bought in 1976.
It seems to have been very well produced and Mike tells me it is in excellent condition.

1954 Compositors Handbook

Many Thanks to Mike Wilson, from Yorkshire in the UK, for sending in this story.

This 104-page booklet was full of tables and facts for the printing trade. Read the Full Article . . .

Free Cobb Shinn Retro Clipart

Metal Type is proud to offer this superb 1950s retro clipart.

The zip file contains three versions of the same artwork in True Type Font (.ttf) Open Type Font (.otf) and Scaleable Vector Graphics (.svg) formats. Read the Full Article . . .

Linotype Model 1 Video

Rubén Brizuela, who runs a letterpress print shop in Mendoza, Argentina is the proud owner of this Model 1 Linotype, which is in full working condition.

He would like to see the machine taking pride of place in a museum somewhere, but nobody seems interested. Read the Full Article . . .

Christophe Plantin Print Shop

Many thanks to Mike Topper for sending in these pictures he took at the Christophe Plantin Museum in Antwerp.

British Print Trade Union Cards 1946-1993

From the late Dave Bowles’ collection of London Fleet Street compositors items comes this great collection of trade union membership cards from 1946 right through to the 1990s.

This page was updated in 2023 with additional cards from the collection of Joseph Henry Davis. Read the Full Article . . .