Yesterday’s Technology . . . Today!
Many thanks to Graeme How, from New Zealand for sending in this illustrated article.
Machinery In The Modern Printing Plant of the ‘Northland Age’ –
TOP left: The Klischograph Photo Engraving Machine. This machine played a big
part in the engraving of blocks for this magazine.… Read the rest
Many thanks to Bill Westland for sending in these great photographs. They were taken at the Rochester Times-Union and Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspapers before computerisation.
A well-dressed Linotype operator
Bank of Linotypes, with a female operator in the background
Another well-dressed operator with visor and cigar
Close-up of copy and keyboard
Operator having a smoke
A bank of linecasters
Between editions
Linecaster with guards
A quiet corner
Democrat and Chronicle article with a photo of Bill himself!… Read the rest
A regular contributor to Metal Type, Graeme How, got in touch to tell me about his local newspaper, The Wairoa Star, celebrating its centenary.
We have four pages of articles about the Wairoa Star sent in by Graeme, check the “Related Pages” menu to see the others.… Read the rest
A superb documentary with interviews from ex Fleet Street workers, produced by digital:works.
The interviewees give a real insight into what it was like to work in the UK national newspaper industry in those days.
“Banging Out” ceremonies are discussed in some detail, as well as Murdoch’s disgraceful treatment of his workforce.… Read the rest
The date is Sunday, July 2, 1978, the last time that the New York Times was printed using hot metal.
David Loeb Weiss, then a proofreader and Carl Shlesinger a Linotype operator filmed and narrated this film to record the occasion.… Read the rest
Don’t miss Brighton Argus 1973
We start with a look at the county of Sussex, which the newspaper serves.
On to the Evening Argus building in Brighton where we see Press Association news reports being received on a VDU.
We see journalists at work in the field, with one taking shorthand notes.… Read the rest
Don’t miss Brighton Argus 1990
The film starts with a look at Brighton sea front and other towns in the Brighton Argus circulation area, accompanied by the obligatory cheesy music recorded on a very stretchy tape.
We then take a quick look at a management meeting before going to the news desk.… Read the rest
This story is taken from Fleet Street journalist Roy Greenslade’s book “Press Gang: How Newspapers Make Profits From Propaganda.”
It tells the story of Rupert Murdoch’s move to Wapping through the eyes of a journalist who made the move.
Make sure you also take a look at “Fortress Wapping” written by award-winning journalist John Pilger.… Read the rest
Roy Brachet, a Linotype operator on the paper for 25 years, took these pictures on the day of the last hot metal edition of the London Evening Standard.
Many thanks to George Finn for sending in this video from the Sydney Morning Herald.
Says George: “The video was extracted from a video tape I was given when I retired in 1989. It was used to give visitors an overview of newspaper production prior to taking a tour of the plant.… Read the rest