Page 59 - Print21 November-December 2022

At Large
Below Movie star: Director Bruce Beresford altered the storyline of
his movie, Ladies In Black, in order to feature the Linotype at Penrith. Trish McCourt (pictured) took the place of actor Shane Jacobsen at the self-same keyboard.
Below right Bob Lockley: Instrumental in transforming Fairfax Printing with new presses and building new press halls throughout Australia and New Zealand. He is holding one of the last copies of The Age that was printed by letterpress.
Berry was a Linotype operator at the Sydney Morning Herald, where 136 machines
clattered away creating the type for the daily newspapers their speed had made viable. Every newspaper in the country had at least one, with their pots of molten lead bubbling away at 560 degrees. Operators were paid piecework and, according to Barry, were reluctant even to take toilet breaks away from their machines. Nonetheless, compositors and Linotype operators were among the best-paid apprentices in any industry.
Colombian presses rule
Once a page had been set up, using handset type in the early days, the forme was placed onto the letterpress. The earliest example at the Museum is a finely restored Columbian press built in1841. It ended its life printing the Carcoar Chronicle in the eponymous town southwest of Bathurst, before being rescued by John B Fairfax, eventually donated to the Museum.
“Compositors and Linotype operators were among the best-paid apprentices in any industry.”
A hugely manual operation, requiring strength and effort, it tests Lockley’s enthusiasm before he comes out with
a couple of sheets that go to make up
the Museum’s promotional booklet. He points out that the press required at least two operators and the speed was less than impressive. No wonder newspaper
“The 45 members are currently searching, with increasing urgency, for new premises to house the invaluable collection.”
circulations were kept relatively small. Berry then moved on to demonstrate
another letterpress press, an 1864 Albion, which is more automated and requires less physical effort. This press was used by Angus & Coote to produce jewellery brochures in the early 20th century. It was later donated to the Museum by Hannanprint.
Stefan Peters stepped up to show how further productivity with less effort was achieved by using foot-operated and hand-powered Chandler and Prince treadle presses. Much light-hearted ribbing accompanied the efforts of all concerned. Wal Sadlo had the easiest part of the show as he introduced the Heidelberg platen from the early years of the 20th century. This iconic electric-powered press transformed the industry with the advent of automatic paper feeders. The workhorse was able
to emboss and perforate as well as print, and more than 175,000 of them were
sold throughout the world. Heidelberg introduced cylinder printing in the 1930s with many of the ubiquitous machines still in use in printing factories everywhere. There is a wealth of other presses and press technology on display at the Museum. The list of press names includes an Arab, several Adana, a Miehle and the largest of all, a
massive Wharfedale letterpress. All have solid provenance and a curated history that the volunteers are only too willing to share. Visitors are presented with samples, and are able to acquire a souvenir print with gold or silver coating.
The Museum provides typography courses, typesetting courses, poster courses and Adana press courses. It is the first stop for film and theatre types looking for authentic props and backgrounds. But despite its increasing popularity, there are dark
clouds over its future. The 45 members are currently searching, with increasing urgency, for new premises to house the invaluable collection. Infrastructure NSW has taken over the Penrith Paceway where it is located, to make way for a new football stadium.
The Museum emphasises it is a self-funding enterprise, provided it can obtain suitable rent-free premises.
Rich resource
Although there seems to be no immediate threat, the industry has only to look at the dissolution of the Melbourne Museum of Printing a few years back to see how easily history can be lost. The printing industry is undoubtedly embattled as it seeks its place in the digital age. But print is far from dead. It has proven to be the prime communication medium for centuries and still continues to be viable and valuable. Its long and celebrated history is epitomised by the Penrith Museum of Printing, a rich industry resource that deserves everyone’s support. 21
Patrick Howard
— Editor-at-large
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