Category: Historical

Historical items

International Printing Museum

Intertype C4
At the International Printing Museum, we have been restoring a circa 1956 C-4 Intertype. As noted, this pix was taken the first day I was able to cast on the machine. The legend is a proof of the casting. The Linotype to my left is a model 32 which is also operational. I am thoroughly enjoying learning to operate these machines. I am doing pretty well with the keyboarding. I am also very good at producing jams but haven’t mastered the un-jamming techniques as yet.

A Model 31 Linotype at the International Printing Museum, plus some other pics, kindly donated by Dr Leland Whitson.

Linotype Factory, Brooklyn

Linotype factory
A picture of the Linotype Factory in Brooklyn, New York, USA. I would guess (looking at the vehicles) it dates from some time between the turn of the 20th Century and World War One. The small print at the bottom proclaims it to be “The Largest Composing Machine Factory in the World.” I think it may have been produced as a postcard.

A superb colour illustration of the Linotype Factory in Brooklyn, New York, USA from about 1900-1920. Kindly sent in by Roy Daniels.

Linotype fan? Don’t miss the Linotype Chat section of the Metal Type Forum. Read the Full Article . . .

Printing House Museum

Linotype keyboard
The linotype keyboard. Spacebar to the left, then lower case, numbers, etc. are in the blue section and caps on the right. There is an expanding spaceband on the tray above. The blue section also contained the now little-used ligatures (fi, fl, ff, ffi, ffl).

The photographs on the following pages were all taken at The Printing House Museum, Cockermouth, Cumbria, UK. The museum unfortunately closed down in 2010.

Linotype fan? Don’t miss the Linotype Chat section of the Metal Type Forum. Read the Full Article . . .

Mystery Photos

Operating a Linotype
Operating a Linotype in a very small workshop. The photographer appears to be stood outside the door.

Dr Leland Whitson bought the photographs on these pages on Ebay. The seller was unable to supply any details about them.

Can you shed any light on the pictures? If you have any idea when or where the pictures may have been taken please get in touch and let us know. Read the Full Article . . .