Australia/NZ Archives - Page 4 of 5

Sands & McDougall, Melbourne, Australia

Thanks to Don Hauser for allowing me to use this extract from his book “Printers of the Streets and Lanes of Melbourne” which he designed and typeset at his Nondescript Press. Unfortunately for us, but fortunately for Don, the original limited edition print run of 1,000 copies entirely sold out and the book is no longer for sale.

The first “Melbourne Directory” was published by Sands & McDougall in 1856 and continued production until 1974. A 1975 issue had been planned but the cancellation of 600-800 copies by the Victoria Police, left the next largest order for 30 copies. Production of the directory was unsustainable. Read the Full Article . . .

Abandoned Intertype C4

I FOUND this C4 Intertype abandoned at an Historical Preservation Society in Pimpama, just 10 km (6 miles) from where I live.

I asked the Publicity Officer what he could tell me about the machine. He said it was before his time, but that they had owned a number of machines but the rest had been given away, along with all the spare parts. Read the Full Article . . .

Linotype Comet 300 TTS

Many thanks to Bill Nairn, from New Zealand, for sending in these photographs — they show a Linotype Comet 300, complete with a Fairchild operating unit attached to the linecaster’s keyboard and the perforating keyboard. The whole set-up is in full operational condition.

Says Bill: “In New Zealand, we had the opportunity to restore a Linotype Comet 300, complete with Fairchild Operating Unit (attached to the Linotype keyboard) and the perforating keyboard. Read the Full Article . . .

Last Letterpress Newspaper in Australia

Linotype operator — John English seated at a vintage Intertype machine setting next edition’s news in lead, tin and antimony at 288 degrees Celsius.

Graeme How spotted this article in an edition of the Australian trade magazine ProPrint. Visit their website here: www.proprint.com.au

TAKE A DRIVE up the scenic Waterfall Way from Bellingen, on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, towards the university city of Armidale, and when you start to breathe the cooler, fresh air at the top of the plateau you’ll find yourself in the snug town of Dorrigo. Read the Full Article . . .

Gisborne Museum, NZ

Sad sight — A sad sight to an ex hot metal man. The ‘eighth wonder of the world’ rusting away.

Graeme How sent in these pictures of a neglected Intertype and an old press from a recent visit to the Gisborne Museum of Technology and Transport in New Zealand.

Damaged Miehle Press

TONY PRESTON sent in this photograph of a press, which he thinks was a Miehle, taken at the Government Printing Office, Perth, Western Australia in 1980.

Says Tony, “The damage is down to the machine minder leaving his quoin key on the bed of the machine, then pressing the start button.” Read the Full Article . . .

New Zealand, 1938

New Zealand Linotype operators — COMPOSITORS typesetting the breaking news for a busy suburban newspaper, circa 1938.

Graeme How spotted this photo whilst queuing at his local bank — and managed to get a copy to send in to Metal Type.

Many thanks to Metal Type stalwart Graeme How for sending in the above picture. Read the Full Article . . .

Model K Elrod Restoration

Thanks largely to John Nicholson of Hamilton, NZ, the Model K Elrod which had been in storage at the Taranaki Aviation Transport And Technology Museum (TATATM), New Plymouth, is now operational.

To the writer’s knowledge, the Model K had been in the lean-to store of the museum, on a heavy wooden plank base since its arrival at the museum and never used since de-commissioning at the donor’s premises (Taranaki Newspapers Ltd., New Plymouth) around 1985. Read the Full Article . . .