Video: printing books in 1947

acidzebra · 09-19-2008, 02:53 AM

Here's an interesting video of the book printing process in 1947:
http://vimeo.com/1063458

We've come a long way, baby.

I couldn't find any modern book printing movies except for this print-on-demand outfit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoMfXxVFeks

Anyone have a more "modern" video?

BookishDreamer · 09-19-2008, 09:53 AM

I've just watched this video and I'm astonished by the typesetting machine. One of my first jobs was at a small printing company. My "typesetting" was done my computer but from there, the process was almost as labor intensive and manual. From laser printer output to the darkroom where a negative and then metal plates are made for the press. The ink was mixed by hand. If the item needed 2 colors, there were 2 plates for the project. The pressman ran the first color with one plate, let the ink dry on the paper, changed plates and ink, and ran the paper through the press a second time. We had a folding machine, but booklet signatures had to be collated by hand. Oh yeah, this was in 1997.

I don't think I've ever seen a modern video that covers the entire process from start to finish. That would be interesting.

Dreamer

HarryT · 09-19-2008, 10:22 AM

Most companies doing "print on demand" seem to use one of the machines in the Xerox "Docutech" range. My local printer has one of these - it's an amazing beast the length of an entire room and costing an astonishing amount of money. You put paper in at one end and complete bound books come out of the other end.

blunty · 09-19-2008, 06:49 PM

We used to have a Linotype caster that set line of hot metal at my school printing club, along with a Heidelberg letterpress printing machine. It was many enjoyable hours spent there that first got me interested in printing as a career (and also helped me fail my A-levels).
Of course you would never be allowed to have school children working that sort of machinery now in case they got injured. But back in the 70's we were often unsupervised, and nobody got hurt.

RDaneel54 · 09-20-2008, 12:51 PM

Very interesting video. I knew nothing about the process, either then or now, before watching this. Now, when I look at my older books I'll understand the effort that went into them.

Thanks,

Dean

acidzebra · 09-20-2008, 01:15 PM

I found a "5 color Miller printing press" which really shows the evolution of these behemoths. Google video has a few of these, and here's one labeled "environmentally friendly", and one showing a printing press is not something to get caught in (WARNING: not for the faint of heart, also not if you hate cliched voice-overs).

09-19-2008, 02:53 AM	#1
acidzebra Liseuse Lover Posts: 869 Karma: 1035404 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Device: PRS-505	Video: printing books in 1947 Here's an interesting video of the book printing process in 1947: http://vimeo.com/1063458 We've come a long way, baby. I couldn't find any modern book printing movies except for this print-on-demand outfit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoMfXxVFeks Anyone have a more "modern" video?

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09-19-2008, 09:53 AM	#2
BookishDreamer Cultural Artist Posts: 1,128 Karma: 12829 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Georgia Device: Sony 505, Kindle 2	I've just watched this video and I'm astonished by the typesetting machine. One of my first jobs was at a small printing company. My "typesetting" was done my computer but from there, the process was almost as labor intensive and manual. From laser printer output to the darkroom where a negative and then metal plates are made for the press. The ink was mixed by hand. If the item needed 2 colors, there were 2 plates for the project. The pressman ran the first color with one plate, let the ink dry on the paper, changed plates and ink, and ran the paper through the press a second time. We had a folding machine, but booklet signatures had to be collated by hand. Oh yeah, this was in 1997. I don't think I've ever seen a modern video that covers the entire process from start to finish. That would be interesting. Dreamer

09-19-2008, 10:22 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Most companies doing "print on demand" seem to use one of the machines in the Xerox "Docutech" range. My local printer has one of these - it's an amazing beast the length of an entire room and costing an astonishing amount of money. You put paper in at one end and complete bound books come out of the other end.

09-19-2008, 06:49 PM	#4
blunty Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 884 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: London Device: Kindle Fire, iPad, iPhone5, Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Vox	We used to have a Linotype caster that set line of hot metal at my school printing club, along with a Heidelberg letterpress printing machine. It was many enjoyable hours spent there that first got me interested in printing as a career (and also helped me fail my A-levels). Of course you would never be allowed to have school children working that sort of machinery now in case they got injured. But back in the 70's we were often unsupervised, and nobody got hurt.

09-20-2008, 12:51 PM	#5
RDaneel54 Aging Positronic Brain Posts: 633 Karma: 2155452 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Aurora (when off-Earth) Device: Amazon Oasis; iPhone, iPad Mini	Very interesting video. I knew nothing about the process, either then or now, before watching this. Now, when I look at my older books I'll understand the effort that went into them. Thanks, Dean

09-20-2008, 01:15 PM	#6
acidzebra Liseuse Lover Posts: 869 Karma: 1035404 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Device: PRS-505	I found a "5 color Miller printing press" which really shows the evolution of these behemoths. Google video has a few of these, and here's one labeled "environmentally friendly", and one showing a printing press is not something to get caught in (WARNING: not for the faint of heart, also not if you hate cliched voice-overs).

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