Nice story from George Finn, explaining how a bit of composing-room ingenuity solved a problem for the Sydney Morning Herald.
BACK in the early 1970’s the Sydney Morning Herald’s presses could only produce 120 broadsheet pages on a collect run.
Category: Stories/Anecdotes
A History of Mechanical Composition
I wrote this thesis back in 1979 as part of City and Guilds studies. I have reproduced it here exactly as it was written.
IN THIS thesis I am setting out to give a brief summary of mechanical composing machines from Mr Church’s first unsuccessful effort back in 1822 to the present day.
Boozy Allegations
George Finn’s amusing account of a Canadian Linotype training course, in Toronto, in 1958.
IN 1958 I was working for Canadian Linotype in Toronto as a service engineer. Although none of the larger newspapers, due mainly to union restraints, were installing, or converting linecaster to teletype operation the Thompson chain and some smaller independent newspapers welcomed the technology.
The Glass Door
Don Hauser’s fascinating story of a lifetime in the print industry.
Taken from Don Hauser’s book “Printers of the Streets and Lanes of Melbourne” this is the story of Don’s lifetime career in print from 1949 to the present day.
Australian Linotype Mechanic
George Finn tells how he started out in the trade and proves that you can’t judge a letter by the envelope!
IN APRIL 1948, when I was 15, my brother, who was a compositor at The Wagga Daily Advertiser, in New South Wales, got me a job as office boy. After six months I was indentured to serve a six year apprenticeship, as a Linotype Mechanic.
Wayzgoose – The Event of the Year
Many thanks to Graeme How for sending in this article, which appeared in the Centennial Edition of the “Weekly News” on November 27, 1963 – the last edition of the magazine appeared in 1971.
HE was one of the last of the old tramp compositors-cum-linotype operators-cum printers. Once upon a time they were a numerous tribe; today they are as outdated as movable type in newspaper headings.
The Apprentice’s Printer’s Pie
METAL TYPE regular Mike Wilson, from Bridlington in the UK sent in this poem.
Mike said: “I’m writing tales in poetry about my childhood. And as I looked at your site today I seem to think I saw the words “Printer’s Pie.” So I sat and composed this poem. It’s a blank verse sonnet, which the writers tell me is difficult to do. But this one just fell into place. Hope you like it.
Casting Ingots
Les Smith, from Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Australia sent in this amusing anecdote about casting ingots.
HOT METAL shops were great recyclers of type metal and usually hidden in a less attractive location would be the equipment to melt the metal, skim off the dross and cast the ingots.
A World of Type
Steve Young sent in this fascinating account of his career, which took him all over the world, as he prepares to retire after 40 years in the trade.
I STARTED my working life at the Hampshire Chronicle in 1965 as an apprentice comp, but very soon graduated on to the line and to my own refurbished Model 4.
Paradigms Lost
The Life and Deaths of the Printed Word. Details of a book written and offered for sale by Metal Type contributor Bill Sonn.
METAL TYPE contributor Bill Sonn has had his book on the history of the printing industry published – after a long gestation period!