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How printing used to work - automated print presses

Put this together for the LL appreciators of old tech, especially dedicated to thecleaner001.
Hiedelberg and Charnwood presses shown. Runtime: 00:01:17 1080/25p.
If you don't like printing presses, then don't watch it.

This is the first footage posted to LL that's all mine. Baby steps eh ;) Uploaded it to Youtube to preserve quality. Shot two months ago at museum of transport and technology open day. Was actually there to film the worlds' last
remaining, public operation mecury arc rectifier. Unfortunately that shed
was closed off for the day.


Added: Jun-30-2012 Occurred On: May-27-2012
By: N4CR
In: Other Entertainment
Tags: Hiedelberg, charnwood, engineering, Printing, Press, old, school, printing, book, making, paper
Location: Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand (load item map)
Marked as: approved
Views: 884 | Comments: 11 | Votes: 3 | Favorites: 0 | Shared: 1 | Updates: 0 | Times used in channels: 2
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  • I've run both of these machines. I used to do foil printing on a platen and die cutting on the cylinder. Pretty sketchy machines, but it was never boring.

    Posted Jul-1-2012 By 
    mcphuk (228.18)  

    (3)

  • Great upload! I love old mechanical stuff. Voted

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    RickBond (6398.60)  

    (2)

  • I used to work in a printing factory. Its a shame that its all going digital. I worked the plate makers but laboured on a CD-74 and SM-74 a SM-52 and several GTO's.

    Is that 1 color GTO?

    Posted Jul-1-2012 By 
    666Berserker (164.80)  

    (2)

    • @666Berserker
      Sorry I'm not sure about the particular machines in use. Next time I'm there I can find out if you are interested. They only print on Sundays from what I remember. Used to volunteer in road transport section at motat on sundays, so never saw it until I came back years later as a punter :)

      Posted Jul-1-2012 By 
      N4CR (938.00)  

      (0)

    • @N4CR You dont have to go out of your way Im not the most familiar with the older machines. Seems a beast though! The second machine resembles many that are still in use although declining due to digital printing machines. Traditional printers had to have years of skill to be adept on the press. Going through a trade from apprentice upwards. Today you can train a monkey in three days to run a digi-press.

      It mite also be worth noting that the Hieldelberg factory in Germany is HUGE it has its own More..

      Posted Jul-1-2012 By 
      666Berserker (164.80)  

      (1)

    • @666Berserker
      What the hell! It's own bus system - extremely impressive.

      The Heidelberg badge said 18xx-1920 from what I can see in the film. Ill have another look later for model numbers and badges that are not in the final cut.
      You say a trained monkey can run a digipress, however unfortunately they don't come with quality control! Seen too much work that is of low quality from digital prints :(

      Guess its easier to do cheaper and thus can be cut in costs in more ways.

      The second machine h More..

      Posted Jul-1-2012 By 
      N4CR (938.00)  

      (1)

  • Great machines.

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    khamomil (1577.04)  

    (1)

    • @khamomil
      They are quite humbling. To think they go all day and night in some cases, with a live caretaker around at all times.

      Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
      N4CR (938.00)  

      (3)

    • @N4CR I know printers would fall in love with their machines just like engineers on steam engine locos and I can understand that very well. To make them run smoothly you need to know them intimately because they all have their personality and their quirks (sp?).

      Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
      khamomil (1577.04)  

      (3)

  • The very beginnings of automated production, awesome!

    Posted Jun-30-2012 By 
    John Lanzer (176.50)  

    (1)

  • My Dad used to run a Heidelberg printing press. It was high tech back in the day and he bragged about being one of the few people who could run the thing. I wonder what he would think of the technology today.

    Posted Aug-13-2012 By 
    nonad (295.40)

    (0)