Mirek Subrt, from the Czech Republic, sent in these photos of his print plant. Mirek worked many years as a Compositor, mainly on Intertypes, but is currently working as a bus driver. Ivan Kohout took the photographs.
Czech Print Works
Category: UK/Europe
McWhan Printers
After more than 70 years the family business, McWhan Printers, Scabrborough, UK closed down early in 2007. Specialising in posters and magazines, the business remained fully letterpress to the end. Ken McWhan used Metal Type Classifieds to try and find new homes for the equipment on these pages — many thanks to the people who were able to help him out.
Cossar Flat-Bed Web Press
Thanks to David Philips for sending in these pictures of a historical press from Scotland, UK.
FROM the Strathearn Herald, Saturday July 6, 1907.
Koenig & Bauer Rollrenner Press Video
Many thanks to Andy from the Basel Paper Mill Museum for sending in these videos of their Koenig & Bauer Rollrenner Press VIII, dating from 1926, printing posters.
Feeding paper
Nodis Rapid Caster
THIS MACHINE was advertised in the November 1944 edition of The British Printer.
The text of the advertisement is as follows: “Type! A Worry? It isn’t to printers who have a Nodis Rapid Caster.
Rusholm Printers, York, 1959
Thanks to Tony Preston for sending in this slightly out of focus (but worth including) photo of Rusholmes Printers.
Tony Preston, who sent in the photograph said: “I’m a native of York and served my time as a hand compositor at Rusholme Printers who were originally in Market Street before moving to High Ousegate in 1956 or 7.
Hampshire Chronicle, 1967
Steve Young sent in this pic and story of a charity event back in 1967.
WINCHESTER Chamber of Commerce organised a “Great Race” in the summer of 1967 as part of their Festival Week.
Driffield Times & Bridlington Chronicle
Many thanks to Mike Wilson for sending in these two photos and details of his early career.
Driffield Times was once based in Exchange Street, Driffield, and the Linos were upstairs.
Yorkshire Evening Press, Xmas Eve
There are six pages of Yorkshire Evening Press photos on Metal Type. Check the “Related Pages” menu to see the rest.
During my time at the Yorkshire Evening Press it was a tradition that the Archbishop of York visited the works every Christmas Eve to press a green button to start the presses rolling.
Harrison and Sons, 1950
From left: Neville Jackman, Joe Hillier, Bert Archer, Frank Farrant, Bert Edwards, Bill Cummins, Harold Harrison, Bill Morrisey, Charley Varnel, Bill Harries, Ernie Bray (aged 17), Cyril Cross, Vic Spall.
The job on the stones in the foreground is probably voters’ list.
Bill Cummins and Charley Varnel are working on record labels which we printed for EMI and Decca.
The tops of the two Linotypes can be seen at the back on the left.
Many thanks to Ernest Bray from London for sending in this photo and caption.