Presses Archives - Metal Type

Printing the Northland Age, 1962

Many thanks to Graeme How, from New Zealand for sending in this illustrated article.

Machinery In The Modern Printing Plant of the ‘Northland Age’ – Read the Full Article . . .

Press Instructions

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Christophe Plantin Print Shop

Many thanks to Mike Topper for sending in these pictures he took at the Christophe Plantin Museum in Antwerp.

Heidelberg Windmill Production, 1957

Heidelberg Windmill production line 1957.

Superb 1957 photograph of the Heidelberg “windmill” press production line in Germany.

A rather cynical commentator has said: “And each worker adding a single impossible-to-remove taper-pinned part.” Sounds like the comment is a result of bitter experience! Read the Full Article . . .

German Museums

1 - A Brehmer book stitching machine — 1 – A Brehmer book stitching machine

Thanks to Teo Pelho, from Finland, for sending in these pictures, taken at the Deutsches Museum, Munich and the Gutenberg Museum, Mainz, Germany.

I have very little information about the pictures, so if you think you can “flesh out” any of the captions, please post your suggestions here. Please refer to the pictures by number. Read the Full Article . . .

Urban Cottage Industries

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 . . .

200,000th Heidelberg Press

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 . . .

Brussels Print Shop

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 . . .

John Jarrold Printing Museum

Many thanks to Flickr user Gridula for allowing these photographs that he took at the John Jarrold Printing Museum, in Norwich, Norfolk, UK to be used on Metal Type.

Says Gridula: “An absolutely stunning example of a smaller Soldan Lightning Proof Press. I didn’t even know this was in the museum so when I walked round the corner and saw this I nearly fell over. Read the Full Article . . .

Beck Isle Museum

I recently paid a visit to the Beck Isle Museum of Rural Life, where they have recreated what they thought a small rural printing office would have looked like in the late 19th Century.

I found the imprint on this one quite interesting. It says: “Printed at the office of R Bonk, Paper-hanger, Market Place, Pickering.” Read the Full Article . . .