Many thanks to George Finn, Metal Type stalwart and Forum moderator for sending this picture of himself in.
George says: “I was going through some old family photos and ran across this one of me working on an Elektron Linotype.
Elektron Back Splash
Category: Location
Bureau of Engraving & Printing, Washington, USA
These pictures were categorised as Printing Shops in Washington, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, c1920-1950, although taking a clue from the clothing worn, I would guess that they could be pinned down to c1930.
What puzzled me about the photographs is that a great deal of attention seems to be being paid to a fairly run-of-the-mill-looking printing press.
New York Herald, c1910
The photographs on this page were taken from the collection held by the United States Library of Congress.
The New York Herald was first published by James Gordon Bennett Sr. during the American Civil War. It supported the Democratic Party. The paper financed Henry Morton Stanley’s expeditions into Africa to find David Livingstone.
Railway Press Car, 1913
The photographs on this page were taken from the collection held by the United States Library of Congress.
Various other bits of equipment can be seen on the picture – presumably there’s a press in there somewhere – some type-cases to the left of the picture.
Linotype Optional Extras, c1960
The material on this page is taken from a brochure published in circa 1960 by the Mergenthaler Linotype Company.
THE Mohr Lino-Saw automatically cuts slugs to required measure before they are delivered to the galley.
New York Times, 1942
The photographs on this page were taken from the collection held by the United States Library of Congress.
Thorold Post, Ontario, Canada, c1920
Jaggers Chiles Stovall, 1970
Thanks to Dan Williams for sending in these scans of an article from the September 1970 edition of “Graphic Southwest” describing long-established trade-typesetter Jaggers Chiles Stovall’s move to new premises.
According to Dan, John F Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, worked at the company for a while. They produced some typesetting work for the US Government, giving conspiracy theorists a little fuel.
News of the World Foundry, 1986
Thanks to Barry Adams for sending in these pictures of the last-ever hot-metal production run of the News of the World – the UK’s biggest circulation Sunday newspaper.
In Barry’s own words: “There was a crew of 4 for the Auto and a further 3 for the Auto shaver.
Yorkshire Evening Press, 1954
There are six pages of Yorkshire Evening Press photos on Metal Type. Check the “Related Pages” menu to see the rest.
Many thanks to an ex-colleague, Ian Cottom, for sending in a scan of the front cover of “The Newsman” from October 1954.