Yesterday’s Technology . . . Today!
Many thanks to Ken Blasbery for taking the trouble to copy and send in this book, which was published in 1949, celebrating the centenary of Britain’s oldest provincial evening newspaper.
As you would expect for this type of publication a lot of emphasis is placed on the journalistic side of things, with production matters tending to take second place.
Bruce Anderton recently digitised some of his old photographic slide collection, and sent these in to Metal Type.
Says Bruce: “Note space at the side of the masthead; this was where the edition seal was printed in red (the only colour in the paper in those days); latterly the “fudge” – or late news secor, on the back page – was also printed in red.
There are six pages of Yorkshire Evening Press photos on Metal Type. Check the “Related Pages” menu to see the rest.
Bruce Anderton recently digitised some of his old photographic slide collection, and sent these in to Metal Type.
Many thanks to Graeme How for sending in images of this 1982 calendar, drawn by Tony Hall. Says Graeme: “A friend of mine was in London at the time of this calendar which belongs to her. She tells she was a barmaid and knew some of the ‘linotype boys’ who worked on Fleet Street newspapers.”
Thanks to John S Smith, a retired Linotype operator, for sending in these pictures taken at the Daily Telegraph just before the demise of hot metal.
Or in John’s own words: “These photos were taken just before the demise of the best club in the world, Fleet Street.”
John Bowles sent in these pictures, and photographs, of his father Dave Bowles – Former Sunday Telegraph compositor and Father of the Chapel.
When Dave Bowles left the Sunday Telegraph on March 23, 1986 he was presented with a framed plate of a Sunday Telegraph front page with the lead story taken out and replaced with a tribute to Dave headlined: “The Godfather Contracts Out.”
Many thanks to John Bowles for taking a trip up to his attic to get these photos for inclusion on Metal Type.
Says John: “It wasn’t the Front Page, the important pages were being done paper paste up by then.
About three years ago Steve Ballard posted in the Metal Type forum asking if anyone remembered his father Stan Ballard, a letterpress comp who unfortunately died in 1988.
John Bowles recently got in touch, and even took a trip up to his attic to find this photograph of Stan.
Another batch of pictures, sent in by Ken Flemington. Says Ken: “They were taken at Northcliffe House, home of the Daily Mail, where we were printing the Sunday People. They were taken in June 1986 and I am in one of the photos. I will also include one of me using a Polymer platemaking machine which replaced hot metal at Holborn for the short period before closure in 1988.
“I hope the readers enjoy these photos as much as I enjoy the other photos of printers and printing on your excellent site. Sadly this is all I have.”
Many thanks to Ken Flemington for getting in touch with the site and sending these photographs in. Some pictures include Ken’s son!
Ken says: “The Woods were American machines which were only used as a last resort as they were extremely unreliable and difficult to fix when little things went wrong.”