The Dominion, NZ

Jim McKenzie (former night printer), Bill Willis, Kevin Brown ? And Hugh Creasey (Sunday Times printer) in the background
Jim McKenzie (former night printer), Bill Willis, Kevin Brown ? And Hugh Creasey (Sunday Times printer) in the background.

Thanks to Kevin Brown for sending these pictures in. Kevin says: “I did my apprenticeship for the Dominion Newspaper, it was a morning paper in Wellington, New Zealand, printed six days a week and we also printed a Sunday paper called the Sunday Times. Copies were sent to most places in the north and south island every day, a truck left Wellington every morning with the first edition and drove up to Auckland.

I took a lot of the pics in 1975, I was working on the day shift, but on the last night that the paper was going to be printed in the old Mercer Street Dominion building I went in and took some pics, that’s why you see people gathering together for me to take the shots and that was 1976. Read the Full Article . . .

Shields Gazette Centenary

The book's front cover
The book’s front cover.

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. Read the Full Article . . .

Urban Cottage Industries

This unrestored linecaster and
This unrestored linecaster and “operator” greet visitors at the entrance to Urban Cottage Industries.

Some of you may remember an article that appeared on Metal Type last year called David Evans, A New Era, 2011. It took a look at David Evans’ move from Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK to new premises in Mytholmroyd, four miles up the road.

David, and new partner Stanley Wilson, have even managed to add to their collection of letterpress equipment since the move. I visited the new premises again in June 2012. Read the Full Article . . .

Bradford Telegraph & Argus, 1970

Bradford Telegraph & Argus front page, January 7, 1970
Bradford Telegraph & Argus front page, January 7, 1970.

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. Read the Full Article . . .

Fleet Street Exposed, Tony Hall

Fleet Street exposed

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.”




Daily Telegraph

Len Reid, Len Rasen and Dave Carter
Len Reid, Len Rasen and Dave Carter.

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.” Read the Full Article . . .