Craft Printing House is starting to feel like a home. This is the garage shop. The tiny garage shop. Rebecca and I have been printing and carefully staying out of each other's way while doing so for about a year now. Currently we are producing limited amount of commercial work for Stumptown Printers' customers, while creating an equal amount of prints for print's sake. It's nice to bring printing back home.
A fiddle tune....
I recently re-discovered this video - it dates back to 2008. It’s a sweet moment captured en-route to a gig on Vancouver island. Sammy reminded me of the name of the tune: Irish Polka. Good choice for that mellow morning ferry ride.
Linotype Machine Cycle
Ah, yes – the old white-out-on-the-cam trick - used in this case to determine where (or if) the cam follower comes in contact with this section of the cam… This is an old video, I don’t recall the issue with the machine. But I do enjoy watching that cam cluster roll, and am happily reminded of why old bottles of white-out are scattered around the shop.
Linotype Machines in the News July 5th, 2019
Linotype Machines in the news! Found today within an article published by The Sherbrooke Record (Quebec). The full article is behind a paywall, and it appears that only recent articles are accessible. However, notable within this article introduction is a pic of Jean Doucet who was the first female linotypist at The Sherbrooke Record. Also of interest, a picture of two mystery typecasting machines. I don't recall having seen a machine quite like this. Can you identify them?
Lintoype Machines in the news November 22, 2019
Today's "Linotype Machine in the news" is a short little remembrance by columnist Tom Garrett of the Payson Roundup in Arizona entitled: "It's amazing how much easier it is to print a newspaper today." Tom describes a sense of wonder when he first encountered a Lintoype Machine while a student working at his local newspaper. He does a good job capturing the sights, sounds and ambience of the press room back in the late 1940s. Picture above is not from the article. It's taken from Abel and Straw's Mechanism of the Linotype and Intertype.
Linotype Machines in the News November 21, 2019
This edition of “Linotype Macines in the News” commemorates Margaret 'Peg' Champney of Yellow Springs, Ohio who worked at the local newspaper for 68 years. It mentions Linotype operation only briefly - maintenance and operation of a line caster was just one of the jobs that Mrs. Champney was responsible for during her tenure at the paper. I was born in Xenia, Ohio just 10 miles south of Yellow Springs, so I found this article particularly interesting. As my brother and I were coming up, we viewed this town as a tiny oasis. Due in part to the sizable student population of Yellow Springs, a visit to Yellow Springs offered new perspective. For us it served as a lens that focused on the distant horizons beyond the corn fields and nearby Dayton, Ohio's industrial cityscape. It was and is a special place. I recall picking up the Yellow Springs News on several occasions, and even remember visiting the office a couple of times. So it was a treat to read this story about Peg's career, and to gain some insight on how this small town paper contributed to the unique culture of Yellow Springs. Her story is an inspiring one. Her strength, independence and dedication to the mission of the free press undoubtedly influenced many of us who directly or indirectly crossed her path, whether we were aware of it or not!
Linotype Machines in the News November 9th, 2019
This Linotype Machine news is not about the machine, but it is about the legend and legacy of the man who invented it. This short article discusses Linotype Machine inventor Ottmar Mergenthlar's grandson George Mergenthaler who was killed while fighting in WWII. An interesting bit from the article: "When his grandfather Ottmar died in 1899 the family was worth $43 million." That's news to me. I had the idea that Ottmar died a heart-broken man, who due to business decisions was pushed out of the company that he built. I also was left with the idea that he was swindled out of equity in the business, but $43 million in 1899 would certainly indicate otherwise.
Published by Rockland/Westchester Journal News and written by David Propper
Linotype Machines in the News November 13th, 2019
Hey! It's our buddy Michael Babcock in the Boston Globe! And he is "bringing it." Meaning, man, look at that machine. You can see the hours of care and maintenance Michael has put into keeping that model 31 happy. That thing is gorgeous. As an example of his dedication to maintenance, check out what appears to be a polished piece of aluminum custom fitted to help slug shavings stay within the waste tray below the pot. Nice idea. Also, check out the compositor's chair. I've not seen one as clean and in pristine condition as that one. Anyway, the guy isn't messing around, and it's nice to see him featured in this article by Brian MacQuarrie. Published in the Boston Globe November 10, 2019. Article here: With Linotype print, the old is new again. To get in touch with Michael and/or to see his work, check these links: Linotypesetting and Interrobang Letterpress.
As a young man, former Port City Mayor John Sullivan attempted to unionize The Palladium-Times’ paperboys, seen above in 1943, to mixed results.
Linotype Machines in the News October 30th, 2019
Ah, more Linotype news. This article is an excellent retrospective of a newspaper worker's life, and how the craft and traditions were passed along through multiple generations. It contains details about Linotype Machine operation, the International Typographical Union and provides a nice snapshot on newspaper print shop culture of the time. Well written and worth the read. Penned by John T. Sullivan, published by The Palladium-Times of Oswego, New York Oct 30, 2019.
Linotype Machines in the News July 20th, 2019
Linotype Machines in the news! Found today within an article posted by orilliamatters.com (Ontario). The Linotype is mentioned only briefly within this article, but the quote describes running a Linotype Elektron, and how breaking news was distributed via punched paper tape. To see this process, visit Doug Wilson's Linotype film archive.
Linotype Machines in the News June 30th, 2019
Linotype Machines in the news! Found today within an article published by Cosmos Magazine. Contained within is a very brief overview of over 400 years of print technology. Notable in the brief article is this bit which offers an important caveat to Gutenberg's contribution to commercial printing:
“Key innovations in what would become revolutionary printing technology began in east Asia, with work done by Chinese nobles, Korean Buddhists, and the descendants of Genghis Khan,” says M Sophia Newman, in a Literary Hub article, “So, Gutenberg didn’t actually invent the printing press”.
Otherwise worth the click to read the brief bio on our man Ottmar Mergenthaler, and to see the modern pic of a well used yet well cared for Linotype Machine.
Linotype Machines in the News June 2nd, 2019
Linotype Machines in the news! Found today within an article published by the Index-Journal in Greenwood, South Carolina. The article announces an exhibit at The Museum and Railroad Historical Center which focuses on this independent family run newspaper's history. From the article: "This daily paper has weathered tremendous change in the newspaper industry as well as changes in its community and the world, chronicling more than 25 United States presidents, the civil rights movement, natural disasters and historic events at home and abroad, giving special focus to local news, sports and features." Among other items of interest, The Museum has one of the Index-Journal's Linotype machine which will be on permanent display. Apparently the machine is still in working condition.
Linotype Machines in the news April 28th, 2019
Linotype Machines in the news found today within an article published by "The Nelson Mail." It describes the city of Nelson, New Zealand's annual heritage fair which takes place at their Founders Heritage Park. It appears that there are a couple working Linotype machines on exhibit, and in use! This heritage park also has a very interesting set up - in addition to functioning as a museum, the facilities are used by working artisans. As such, a contemporary art and design business called "The Armarie Room" run by Renee Hadlow is housed in the facility, where commercial work is produced and workshops are offered. Good way to keep the craft alive, me thinks.
Garage shop is shaping up!
New concrete slab poured, walls insulated, plywood sheathing added, 240 volt circuit added, LED shop lights installed, 240 volt shop heater installed... we managed to run some ink and bust out a couple print jobs last week. Fortunately Rebecca is a master at organization. This space will fill up fast. That said, I'm very excited about this cute little shop space. It is going to be a nice manageable way to keep ink flowing while settling-in after the hectic push of the last several months to clear out of the Stumptown Printers space.
Equipment Storage
Temporary storage for 30,000 pounds of equipment which has called Stumptown Printers home for the last 11-20 years. Linotype machine, 8 full magazine racks, proof press, Heidelberg 13"x18", 8"x12" platen, stones, guillotine cutter, type cabinets and more. The container will live on the outskirts of town near Clackamas. Eric squirreled away some offset presses and equipment at his in-law's barn up in the Skagit Valley, Washington. While the press operators will still be toiling away in the city, much of the Stumptown Printers equipment will be enjoying a countryside respite for at least a couple of months.
Stumptown Printers: Ship Shape and Shipped Out
At the eleventh hour on the last day of January we managed to clear out the Stumptown Printers shop space. 20 years as a business. 11 years at this shop. Whew. What a journey. If we hadn't been down to the wire, it would have been ideal to have some sort of shindig to celebrate 20 years and future projects. Maybe a roller skating party or something like that. But, things don't always work out that way. Now we have to move on to caring for our presses and Linotype in storage, and to continue to set up the home print shop....
Linotype machines in the news November 25th, 2018
A shop built to house a small community hotmetal newspaper (composed by Linotype) which covered the early days of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement, now functions as a hub for local artists. Link to article here. via: montereycountyweekly.com Notes: Castroville Times
The Point.
Another print run of “The Point.” The Point is a newsletter from the C.C. Stern Type Foundry. With “miscellaneous missives” penned by foundry volunteers. Composition was originally cast at the 11th hour before leaving for the 2018 American Type Casting Fellowship Conference. Types used: Linotype 10pt Caledonia 496 with Metro Medium and italic 462. Heading is set in Jensen Bold and cast on the Ludlow. There’s a sampling of DeVinne Monotype No. 11 cast on the Monotype sorts caster. Also miscellaneous Lino and Monotype decorative material.
Lino Lager Report
The Lino Lager label has been archived in "Fonts in Use!” Thank you Nick Sherman for the write up and for adding it.
The cap of the last Lino Lager has been popped and this limited bottling is long gone, so it's a good time for a follow up.
Several Linotype enthusiasts gave themselves a break from their “etaoin shrdlu” keyboards long enough to take a “slug” of this project - it was a good excuse to catch up with fellow line-casting and hot-metal print misfits.
The following are some highlights:
Thanks to Linotype operator and Baltimore Museum of Industry volunteer Steve Cole, the beer made it to the birthplace of the Linotype machine and Ottmar Mergenthaler’s long time home: Baltimore, Maryland. Steve Cole and Ray Loomis enjoyed a couple “slugs” of the Lino Lino lager after their volunteer shift at the museum, and properly honored the machine and the man with their celebration.
Our good pals Dave and Gnu from Dayton, Ohio couldn't make it, but they sent flowers to arrive in time for tasting event to help class the joint up a bit. Thanks guys!
Mr. Doug Wilson, director of “Linotype, the Film” broke away from the busy schedule at TypeCon and was able to join us at Stumptown Printers for the tasting party. It was very nice to catch up with Doug, talk Linotype machines, socialize with other TypeCon attendees, and to have more than a couple tastes of the then-two-day-fresh Lino Lager by Royale Brewing.
Frank Romano (author of History of the Linotype Company and executive committee member of the Museum Of Printing) participated, though he may not have known it. While chewing the fat about the origins of Mathew Carter’s Olympian typeface, Doug emailed Frank to get the story. Frank quickly responded and confirmed that in fact Olympian was the last Linotype face cut for hot metal composition. In fact, here’s a list of the last five faces that Linotype produced matrices for:
1971 OCR-B
1972 Helvetica Condensed with Bold Condensed
1972 Helvetica Condensed with Bold Condensed
1972 Olympian with Bold
1972 Olympian with Italic
Thanks for the info, Frank.
Like an old pro, Amy Redmond knew what to do with her bottle of Lino Lager. She sat on the stoop of her pal's house while visiting Portland and slugged it down after delivering a killer talk at TypeCon earlier that day.
A Lino Lager made it out to the Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain and into the clutches of my buddy and fellow Linotype operator Michael Babcock of Interrobang Letterpress. After it arrived, we jabber-jawed like a couple teenagers on the phone for about an hour while catching up and swapping Lino stories. Michael has been tuning up his machine and has been documenting some of his work here. His 31 is looking real clean, and he is putting a lot of love into it. Solid work.
Speaking of work, Bill and Tristin Spurling of Linotype.org happen to be darn good brewers and Linotype mechanics and hard working fellas. Naturally a couple of Lino Lagers landed at their Linotype farm in Yamhill, Oregon. It was good to check in with the lads.
Bill Washburn, Local craft printer, long time Linotype operator, mentor, friend, and pusher of lino-mats received a bottle of the lager, and as a result, it brought him out of his retired life and inspired him to visit us at the C.C. Stern Type Foundry. He's always got a good story, and it's always good to see him.
The C.C. Stern Type Foundry crew are always game for hot metal and print, after the special TypeCon C.C. Stern Type Foundry open house, the foundry team along with TypeCon attendees headed to nearby Royale Brewing to have pints of the Lino Lager and continue discussions about type and metallurgy.
Finally, the last 4 bottles traveled with us to the 2018 ATF conference hosted by M & H Type in San Francisco. As usual, it was an inspiring conference, and the crew at M & H did a fantastic job putting it all together. We put two of the bottles up on the auction block for the American Type Casting Fellowship fundraising auction. Auctioneer Greg Walters busted me by catching a typo on the label which I wasn’t aware of. Dang. A humbling blunder in that room full of master typographers and typesetters. Alas, Norman McKnight was a good sport and bid on the beers anyway, the sale of the beers raised a little money for the organization, and then Norman shared his winnings with the thirsty crew. It was an honor to pop the last tops of the Lino Lager at that event.
Update! I was reminded of additional Lino Lager adventures:
A bottle made it to Colorado, where its contents were enjoyed by board members and volunteers at the Letterpress Depot.
Myrna from Expedition Press stopped by the C.C. Stern Foundry during the TypeCon open house where 2 or 3 bottles stowed away with her back to the Expedition headquarters in Washington state.
Also, apparently a full bottle *still* exists within the worker's fridge at the Letterform Archive. Those folks hosted a special viewing of select materials from the archive during the American Typecasting Fellowship Conference. It was an amazing presentation and curation of the collection. Thanks for that, guys! As for the currently un-opened lager, I'll present you with this caveat: The lager is delicious when fresh, but the longer it sits, the more the taste resembles the first part of the name rather than the second. So if you decide to drink it, please keep that in mind!
Lino-Lager!
I'll be casting some type and decorative border for a snazzy beer label, I hope to post some pics soon. Below is info about this collaboration from blog originally posted on the Stumptown Printers website....
Save the Date!
Friday, August 3rd 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Stumptown Printers Worker Cooperative
Steps away from the Yellow Line Albina/Mississippi MAX Station
2293 N. Interstate Ave
Portland, OR 97227
503-233-7478
In honor of the Linotype Machine, commercial print and a job well done, enjoy a taste of “Lino-Lager,” a limited bottling of Royale Brewing’s most popular brew. This limited bottling will be adorned with labels composed on our in-house 1946 Linotype model 31 machine. Hang out, talk shop and traditional print in a classic commercial print shop while the sun sets over the Fremont Bridge. The Linotype machine will be on, we’ll be casting Caledonia 10 ^ 496 for a new C.C. Stern Type Foundry publication. Demos will be given until the operator has consumed too much "Lino-Lager." There will be a small supply Lino-Lager bottles available for purchase. Come raise a glass Ottmar Mergenthaler, his amazing machine and to hot-metal type composition. See you there!