Printing Films

A film created by Carl Schlesinger and David Loeb Weiss documenting the last day of hot metal typesetting at The New York Times. This film shows the entire newspaper production process from hot-metal typesetting to creating stereo moulds to high-speed press operation. At the end of the film, the new typesetting and photographic production process is shown in contrast to the old ways. There are interviews with workers at NYT that are for and against the new technology. In fact, one typesetter is retiring on this final day as he does not want to learn the new process and technology. This is the first time the film has ever been available in HD from the original 16mm master film. Ca. 1978

Made for the 75th anniversary of the Linotype in 1961, this film shows the impact that the invention of the Linotype had on the printing industry and the world. There are excellent sections on typeface design, cutting steel punches, using the Benton engraving machine, and the manufacture of Linotype matrices. The film showcases various models of Linotypes, machines running via tape and Teletypesetting, as well as Linofilm machines and the process of producing film type matrices. (note: audio is missing for the first 10 seconds) Year: 1961

“In the age of jet speed, Mergenthaler presents the Elektron: fully automated typesetting that is jet fast and all new from the base up.” This film showcases the completely re-designed Elektron Linotype. Fed by perforated tape, the Elektron can cast up to 15 lines per minute without an operator at the machine. With many electronic and hydraulic parts, the Elektron was Linotype’s last hot-metal type casting machine. Although many improvements were made, the limits of mechanical type setting had been reached and the Elektron was too little too late for the market that had moved on to photo and computer composition. Year: 1962

If you ever wondered how a typeface went from a designer’s drawing to a finished, cast piece of type from the Monotype; this is the film for you. Starting with an original drawing, this film goes through the painstaking and multi-step process of creating a single typeface in a single style in a single size for the Monotype composition caster. It shows the entire process of type design and creation at Monotype including tracing using custom-made projectors, making a technical drawing (showcasing the drawing office with many women workers), making a pattern plate using a pantograph, creating a brass pattern, using a pantograph to engrave a punch, punching the brass to make matrices for the full matrix case, and finally casting the letters in type metal using a composition caster. Ca. 1955

This film was created to explain how to properly care and maintain a Monotype Casting Machine mould block (where the molten hot-metal is cast into the matrices). For anyone interested in the inner-workings of the Monotype Casting Machine, there is a great, slow-motion explanation with parts of the machine in clear plastic so you can see how it functions. Year: 1965

The Monotype is a wonder of mechanics and engineering and in this film you will see the process of manufacturing the Monotype keyboard and composition caster from beginning to end. The film starts by showing the Salfords, UK train station and entrance into the Monotype factory, then shows all of the milling, drilling, cutting, and casting required to make the casting machine. After that, we see the keyboard and paper-punch apparatus being constructed. The film ends with footage of testing and calibrating the machine and images of the Monotypes being shipped all over the world. Ca. 1955

Starting out with the funkiest song the late 1960s could create, the film shows a fashion photo shoot for the title screen of the film. It shows all of the processes involved in making the final print including photography, laser scanning, platemaking, printing, and trimming. The film features the printing of The Wall Street Journal in California showing the way that the articles are transferred using phone, microwave, and paper-punch tape. All forms of printing are displayed from small, letterpress jobs to printing on pharmaceutical drugs and packaging for toothpaste. Beginning at 17:41, there is a five minute “music video” (for lack of a better term) for printing that has the grooviest pan flute and beats you’ve ever heard. Worth watching just for this! Year: 1969

Are you a printer, typesetter, binder, screen printer, or image scanner in need of help with technical problems and are your shirt collars wide-enough to prove that it is the 1970s? If so, this is the film for you. The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) has a telephone hotline that you can call for technical assistance and problem-solving to help you stay profitable in the printing business. The GATF was established in Pittsburgh, PA to help over 1,200 printers and reproduction facilities of all sizes deal with common issues affecting production and to increase profitability. They offered on-call trouble shooting, research and development in new technologies and tactics, and education to keep you and your staff informed and abreast of all new ideas in printing. Ca. 1970

For anyone interested in seeing the entire process of type manufacturing, this is one of the best films made. Created by the American Type Founders Company, this film features the appearance and narration of Ben Grauer, a famous NBC radio personality explaining his love of books and modern printing. The history of printing is briefly shown followed by showing the in-depth process of matrix and punch making. The film shows the most in-depth and visually easy-to-understand process of making type. It follows the entire process of type making from original design (showcasing Lydian by Warren Chappell) to pattern making, punch cutting, matrix making, and the use of the Benton engraving machine. Year: 1948