IDK

A continuation of an exercise to explore the meaning of acronyms found in online and text communication. Jeff provided me with a list of them. This list lives on top of the Linotype keyboard. I've had to search for the meaning of some of the listed acronyms multiple times. Instead of committing their meaning to memory, I prefer to make up my own meanings, and then forget those. Anyway, this exercise also serves as the framework to take a deep dive into one single type face: 14pt Intertype Bodoni Book 961. I enjoy the constraints. One typeface, a limit of 4 hours (the normal duration of open hours at the C.C. Stern Type Foundry) and an acronym that I don't understand. "IDK" will be the 4th print in this acronym-type-specimen exercise.

"Shelvin' Rock" played by Ernie Carpenter and Michael Kline at the 1982 Vandalia Gathering

One of my favorite tunes and fiddler. I haven't seen much video/film documentation of Ernie - it was a nice surprise to find this on youtube. Thanks to West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History for making this available to the public through their West Virginia State Archives Music Channel.

Continue Us Belly Band Final

"Continue Us" Belly Band (or OBI strip) complete and in place. "Continue Us" by Marko Whens is an exercise book of poems. Edition of 72. Pages printed on newsprint. Composition Linotype.

Continue Us proof

Pictured above is a proof of type cast for “Continue us” by Marko Whens. These Linotype slugs were used to print a “belly band” for Marko’s exercise book of poems. Completed in 2019. More info and documentation soon….

Train of thought

Train of thought. It's 3:38 AM, on my day off from the train yard. In true old-school-blog spirit, I'm writing the thoughts as they enter my brain. No editing between the brain and the fingers. For that I'm sorry. But also, thank you. You are helping me out. At this hour, there's not much to do. Thanks for reading. I'm putting in the time so when I return to my shift tomorrow night, I won't be too discombobulated (I don't believe I've typed "discombobulated" in quite a while, if ever) as a result of going to bed early. So I'm shooting for a 4:00 AM beddy-bobo time. Which is still early, but probably close enough. Man, night shift can rough. So I'm here at this site, taking a look around. Dusting stuff off. See if I can still work this Squarespace site. I've been meaning to re-engage. I've been missing my distant print pals. I've got a lot of catching up to do. Stories to tell. Ink to share. Type to share. Stories about the C.C. Stern Type Foundry and about our mini-shop shop in the garage. Stories about visits from printing pals. Stories about fiddles and fiddle tunes. I'll save the train yard stories for another platform, or for when I see you in person. It's been close to a year-and-a-half working the graveyard shift. I don't think I'll ever get fully acclimated to this schedule, but it has finally been a bit more manageable of late. Which means I've been pulling out the galleys and the print work. I hope to share some of it with you soon. Also, I've been enjoying and inspired by some fantastic work that you all have been making. Keep it up. Cheers!

Mother Foucault's August 2018 Events Calendar

Way back when, Mother Foucault's bookshop had their events calendar composed and printed using Linotype matter. That was way back in '18. 2018. Okay, it happened twice. For July, and the one pictured here for August. Craig dropped off his handwritten notes, I then clipped the notes to the Linotype copy tray, and there it would sit for several days while job work was being completed. One midnight, Craig showed up unannounced while I was just getting started on the August events calendar. It must have been the middle of August at that point. He was good natured about the delay, but that was the last time I printed the bookshop's event calendar. I don't know if this one ever saw the light of day. So I'm posting pics of it now. This edition included Edwin Rolfe's "A poem to delight my friends who laugh at science fiction" which seems at home on newsprint, and which I enjoy reading again and again. The type is Linotype 8^502 Excelsior with Memphis Bold. Edition of 300. Printed on newsprint.

Space Band box needs some attention

I took this pic while at the C.C. Stern Type Foundry board members’ work session. Chris Chen was in town, so the focus was on the comp caster. Exciting stuff was happening over there at the comp machine, but too many board members around the type metal spoils the alloy. Or at least that was my theory that day. So Linotype house cleaning was my strategy. Number 4 spacebands have occasionally been hanging up at the top of the box and not sliding into place. After some cleaning and an added shim, the choke point was alleviated. Not entirely fixed, but certainly an improvement.

Clips taken during C.C. Stern Type Foundry open hours

A random collection of video clips taken in 2018 - 2019 during C.C. Stern Type Foundry open hours. This was compiled rather quickly on a phone for the occasion of the College Book Art Association (CBAA) 2020 Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana January 2–4, 2020

Craft Printing House

Craft Printing House is starting to feel like a home. This is the garage shop. The tiny garage shop. Rebecca and I have been printing and carefully staying out of each other's way while doing so for about a year now. Currently we are producing limited amount of commercial work for Stumptown Printers' customers, while creating an equal amount of prints for print's sake. It's nice to bring printing back home.

A fiddle tune....

I recently re-discovered this video - it dates back to 2008. It’s a sweet moment captured en-route to a gig on Vancouver island. Sammy reminded me of the name of the tune: Irish Polka. Good choice for that mellow morning ferry ride.

Linotype Machine Cycle

Ah, yes – the old white-out-on-the-cam trick - used in this case to determine where (or if) the cam follower comes in contact with this section of the cam… This is an old video, I don’t recall the issue with the machine. But I do enjoy watching that cam cluster roll, and am happily reminded of why old bottles of white-out are scattered around the shop.

Linotype Machines in the News July 5th, 2019

Linotype Machines in the news! Found today within an article published by The Sherbrooke Record (Quebec). The full article is behind a paywall, and it appears that only recent articles are accessible. However, notable within this article introduction is a pic of Jean Doucet who was the first female linotypist at The Sherbrooke Record. Also of interest, a picture of two mystery typecasting machines. I don't recall having seen a machine quite like this. Can you identify them?

Lintoype Machines in the news November 22, 2019

Today's "Linotype Machine in the news" is a short little remembrance by columnist Tom Garrett of the Payson Roundup in Arizona entitled: "It's amazing how much easier it is to print a newspaper today." Tom describes a sense of wonder when he first encountered a Lintoype Machine while a student working at his local newspaper. He does a good job capturing the sights, sounds and ambience of the press room back in the late 1940s. Picture above is not from the article. It's taken from Abel and Straw's Mechanism of the Linotype and Intertype.

Linotype Machines in the News November 21, 2019

This edition of “Linotype Macines in the News” commemorates Margaret 'Peg' Champney of Yellow Springs, Ohio who worked at the local newspaper for 68 years. It mentions Linotype operation only briefly - maintenance and operation of a line caster was just one of the jobs that Mrs. Champney was responsible for during her tenure at the paper. I was born in Xenia, Ohio just 10 miles south of Yellow Springs, so I found this article particularly interesting. As my brother and I were coming up, we viewed this town as a tiny oasis. Due in part to the sizable student population of Yellow Springs, a visit to Yellow Springs offered new perspective. For us it served as a lens that focused on the distant horizons beyond the corn fields and nearby Dayton, Ohio's industrial cityscape. It was and is a special place. I recall picking up the Yellow Springs News on several occasions, and even remember visiting the office a couple of times. So it was a treat to read this story about Peg's career, and to gain some insight on how this small town paper contributed to the unique culture of Yellow Springs. Her story is an inspiring one. Her strength, independence and dedication to the mission of the free press undoubtedly influenced many of us who directly or indirectly crossed her path, whether we were aware of it or not!

Linotype Machines in the News November 9th, 2019

This Linotype Machine news is not about the machine, but it is about the legend and legacy of the man who invented it. This short article discusses Linotype Machine inventor Ottmar Mergenthlar's grandson George Mergenthaler who was killed while fighting in WWII. An interesting bit from the article: "When his grandfather Ottmar died in 1899 the family was worth $43 million." That's news to me. I had the idea that Ottmar died a heart-broken man, who due to business decisions was pushed out of the company that he built. I also was left with the idea that he was swindled out of equity in the business, but $43 million in 1899 would certainly indicate otherwise.

Published by Rockland/Westchester Journal News and written by David Propper

Linotype Machines in the News November 13th, 2019

Hey! It's our buddy Michael Babcock in the Boston Globe! And he is "bringing it." Meaning, man, look at that machine. You can see the hours of care and maintenance Michael has put into keeping that model 31 happy. That thing is gorgeous. As an example of his dedication to maintenance, check out what appears to be a polished piece of aluminum custom fitted to help slug shavings stay within the waste tray below the pot. Nice idea. Also, check out the compositor's chair. I've not seen one as clean and in pristine condition as that one. Anyway, the guy isn't messing around, and it's nice to see him featured in this article by Brian MacQuarrie. Published in the Boston Globe November 10, 2019. Article here: With Linotype print, the old is new again. To get in touch with Michael and/or to see his work, check these links: Linotypesetting and Interrobang Letterpress.

Linotype Machines in the News October 30th, 2019

Ah, more Linotype news. This article is an excellent retrospective of a newspaper worker's life, and how the craft and traditions were passed along through multiple generations. It contains details about Linotype Machine operation, the International Typographical Union and provides a nice snapshot on newspaper print shop culture of the time. Well written and worth the read. Penned by John T. Sullivan, published by The Palladium-Times of Oswego, New York Oct 30, 2019.

Linotype Machines in the News July 20th, 2019

Linotype Machines in the news! Found today within an article posted by orilliamatters.com (Ontario). The Linotype is mentioned only briefly within this article, but the quote describes running a Linotype Elektron, and how breaking news was distributed via punched paper tape. To see this process, visit Doug Wilson's Linotype film archive.

Linotype Machines in the News June 30th, 2019

Linotype Machines in the news! Found today within an article published by Cosmos Magazine. Contained within is a very brief overview of over 400 years of print technology. Notable in the brief article is this bit which offers an important caveat to Gutenberg's contribution to commercial printing:

“Key innovations in what would become revolutionary printing technology began in east Asia, with work done by Chinese nobles, Korean Buddhists, and the descendants of Genghis Khan,” says M Sophia Newman, in a Literary Hub article, “So, Gutenberg didn’t actually invent the printing press”.

Otherwise worth the click to read the brief bio on our man Ottmar Mergenthaler, and to see the modern pic of a well used yet well cared for Linotype Machine.

Linotype Machines in the News June 2nd, 2019

Linotype Machines in the news! Found today within an article published by the Index-Journal in Greenwood, South Carolina. The article announces an exhibit at The Museum and Railroad Historical Center which focuses on this independent family run newspaper's history. From the article: "This daily paper has weathered tremendous change in the newspaper industry as well as changes in its community and the world, chronicling more than 25 United States presidents, the civil rights movement, natural disasters and historic events at home and abroad, giving special focus to local news, sports and features." Among other items of interest, The Museum has one of the Index-Journal's Linotype machine which will be on permanent display. Apparently the machine is still in working condition.