Elrod Casting 36pt

Many thanks to Andy Taylor, of the Elrod Press, for sending in this video of his Elrod strip caster producing 36pt mounting material for 8-guage magnesium plates.

Need some strip material? Click here to open a PDF (in a new window) which shows the varied materials Andy can cast, along with his contact details. 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 . . .

Yorkshire Evening Press, 1984

An Intertype Monarch on the TTS casting Section
An Intertype Monarch on the TTS casting Section.

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. 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 . . .

200,000th Heidelberg Press

December 1968, the 200,000th Heidelberg press rolls off the production line in Germany
December 1968, the 200,000th Heidelberg press rolls off the production line in Germany.

Thanks to Don Mountain for sending in this material that documents the completion and delivery of the 200,000th Heidelberg press in 1968/69.

This article was published in “Seclarion” the newsletter of Seligson & Clare (Aust) Pty Ltd, the Australian Agents for Heidelberg at that time. Read the Full Article . . .

Stempel Type Foundry

An overview of the type foundry
An overview of the type foundry.

Thanks to Thomas Gravemaker for sending in these photographs that he took on a visit to the Stempel Type Foundry, Darmstadt, Germany.

Thomas said: “The photographs were taken on my visit to the Stempel Foundry in Darmstadt, Germany. They’re housed in the Haus fur Industriekultur, where they have a fantastic working museum, presses, type, A complete range of Linotypes (from the earliest ones to the latest versions) and some Monotype material as well. Read the Full Article . . .

Brussels Print Shop

Intertype machine and operator
Intertype machine and operator.

Many thanks to Flickr user Robert Clerebaut for allowing these photographs of his father’s print shop in Brussels, Belgium, to be used on Metal Type

Robert said: “My father started as a typesetter in 1928. He opened his print shop in Brussels in 1937. I studied at the School Amsterdamse Grafische (1956-1960) and worked in the family print shop in Brussels. In addition, I gave over 13 years at the National School of Visual Arts of La Cambre (1993-2005). Since 1980 member of the Rencontres Internationales de Lure, and I met Francois Boltana. Read the Full Article . . .