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Steven Lee Harris
Hunger Member
Post Number: 51
Registered: 09-2007

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Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2007 - 04:34 pm:

I have moved a lot of printing presses in my time as a rigger. As of late I give little thought to seeing one. Yesterday was an exception to that rule. My company moved a lithographic press dating back to the early 1800's. I have no words to describe the feeling I got from laying my hands on that piece of history, or the pride from hauling it on my truck.
I wish I had more time to look at it, but rigging is a fast-paced occupation. In truth, I didn't even have time to check the manufacturer's nameplate. It reminded me of a Washington hand-press, but much older. The impression-block was roughly three feet square, and nine-inches thick. The engraving was as fresh as if the block had just been cut. The most amazing thing I found was that the press was still in operational condition (we had to move many of the components to squeeze the press through the door of its new home).
I will try to get some pictures to post when work slows down. I had to tell someone about it before then. Who better to appreciate my experience than a group of writers?

Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number: 3170
Registered: 06-2002

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Posted on Saturday, December 22, 2007 - 06:51 pm:

Stephen, When you go back there, be sure to get the name of the Lithograph and find out as much of the history of it as possible and also what the future holds for it. I love old typewriters and the older mimeographs also. There is much that all of us can learn from looking at those things. I mean, just think, all the effort it took to put a paper out, which is what I have done in the past with having to put all the type into those trays and clean them up after the work was done, and now we just type something into a computer and print it out of a printer and then make as many copies of it as we want all with the touch of a few buttons. If I had to go through all the hassle of what they went through in the 1800's, I might still have put out my little weekly, but it would have taken me much more time and effort to do it. As it was when I was doing that paper it took me about three days of time and effort to get it together and delivered to my community, and to think that I would have had to work all week just to get a few pages put out back then......

Claudia
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Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number: 1719
Registered: 10-2003

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Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2007 - 04:02 am:

We are lucky to live in a time like this though. There was a time that you had to copy books by hand if you wanted one.

But it is always fun to take a look at old designs. They are often pretty sturdy and robust.
I have spilled a bit of coffee on my compter keyboard and lost a number of keys!
I opened it up in an attempt to clean it: it was made of two contact foils who were already damaged beyond repair. It will probably rot away completely within a few years, unlike that old printing press...

Steven Lee Harris
Hunger Member
Post Number: 53
Registered: 09-2007

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Posted on Monday, December 24, 2007 - 08:23 pm:

This is a similar style to what we moved, though a much later model. I will make it back to take pictures, and do some research when we slow down. Mind you, that could be months in the future. For me, the reward will be worth the wait.

Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number: 3172
Registered: 06-2002

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Posted on Monday, December 24, 2007 - 10:29 pm:

how utterly neat, Steven. I envy you the search and the ultimate finding out about it.

Claudia
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Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number: 1721
Registered: 10-2003

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Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - 03:19 pm:

You think you could run Vista on that thing Steven?

Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number: 3729
Registered: 02-2003

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Posted on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - 08:10 pm:

Silly boy, Harry...you can't run Vista on anything...
:-)

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Gloria Marlow
Unity Member
Post Number: 2051
Registered: 04-2002

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Posted on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - 02:26 pm:

I hate Vista.

But I would love to lay eyes on that press.

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Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number: 1722
Registered: 10-2003

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Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 10:21 am:

Todd, I think that if you would run Vista on Steven's press, it would be much less annoying than if you would run it on a computer.

a1208151796989 (Unregistered Guest)
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Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 07:43 am:

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