How To Use a WWII Era Printer - On Board USS Salem

[@iandegraff3472]

I remember once reading a great epigraph at the front of a book written for automotive mechanics. In the '70's... Here's what it said- "A man who works with hands is a laborer. A man who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. A man who works with his hands, his head, and his heart is an artist." I believe what we're seeing here is a master artist at work. Bravo, sir, bravo.

[@codiefitz3876]

Peter has pride. Peter is a man that wakes up every single day with a plan. Peter follows that plan flawlessly.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

And he succeeds.

[@AvengerII]

Peter is a surgeon. That's why he stole the bottle from the hospital! LOL If you pay attention to Ryan and the retired vets commentary on videos (as well as blogs), this happens more often than you think. They're not "stealing" per se so much as "borrowing." It's funding issues and the fact that they have to modify what's available to get the job done (or like Peter said, "They just don't make these parts anymore!!!"). Those of us who have homes over 20 years old should know what they're dealing with. How many do you have to modify hardware to fit appliances and things that don't have spare parts made for them anymore? Even then, you often have to drill new holes or cut screws to get things to fit! I had to change a door lock and knob on a stormdoor this past summer. The replacement was $54 but at least the style and color of the part matched what it replaced (plus I finally got a key that fit the deadbolt of my storm door; the last owner of my place didn't leave a key that fit the stormdoor!!!!). I was lucky I only had to drill a new hole in my door to secure the new knob and lock.

[@sail72]

Peter is amazing! No volunteer can fire the main guns or drive the ship, but Peter can operate WWII equipment with all the skill of a crewman in the 1940s because he keeps the printing press alive. Ryan, too bad that press is too large for you to sneak it out of the Salem. I'm sure you'd love to have it on the New Jersey!

[@lightningwingdragon973]

Repeat has pride. Repeat is a man that wakes up every single day with a plan. Repeat follows that plan flawlessly.

[@christopheryoung3356]

I met Peter at the USS Salem ticket office this past weekend. Nice guy. He was very proud of this video as he very well should be; he is very skilled at his trade. I remember seeing similar style printers when I went to DBT (people from Boston over 40 will get the reference).

[@allys537]

This man, this press and this ship are national treasures, cherish them while they are around!

[@wolfhalupka8992]

goodness, in those days those guys really needed to know what they were doing.... not just clicking an icon on a screen. cool.

[@johncollinson4147]

The technical skill of this gentleman is awesome. Goes to show the old school benefit of a skilled trade. Today it’s all plug and play. Bravo sir. And bravo to USS New Jersey for reminding us. Bravo Zulu.

[@patrickchambers5999]

I think it's more plug and pray as today's people can't solve problems anymore. PS I went to a vocational high school from 1960-1964 and the had a great printing program: manual typesetting, linotype machines, job presses and smaller continuous machines, plate making and cameras, etc. It's all gone there now and an entire wing of the school is now closed and collecting cobwebs. I was an electronics major and that are is also gone today.

[@warrenjones744]

Peter is the classic old school Boston character. A treasure for sure. If I had to guess he is a wicked nice guy and would help anyone. Cheers

[@roberteverett1476]

He is

[@tomdchi12]

Love that the Salem's newsletter is the Witches' Brew.

[@IvorMektin1701]

I was trained on one of those, or very similar, back in junior high school shop class. Peter's experience is priceless. They're very sophisticated paper airplane folders if you don't know what you're doing. I know I produced enough paper B-52s to reenact Operation Linebacker II😉

[@yes_head]

I trained on one of those as part of my graphic design curriculum back in the mid-1980s. The school got rid of all of the old equipment (including typesetters, cameras for shooting negatives, plate makers, etc.) not long after I graduated because everything had switched to the Mac almost overnight. It was sad how many experienced pressmen, typesetters, etc. (and their businesses) all lost their jobs in the next 5 years or so. Every time I went on a press check afterwards I made sure to let the pressmen know how much I valued their skill and experience.

[@SeanBZA]

Folders and perforators can do the job a lot better, even more so if you are slitting while folding as well.

[@murraystewartj]

My Dad was a high school art teacher and they had a similar type press but four color (I think it was an old monster that a local print shop donated when they upgraded). I remember one day he called home to say he'd be very late. One of the students had been doing a job during the last period and hadn't noticed that a sheet of paper had gotten wrapped around one of the many rollers and was in no time reduced to paper fibers that covered everything. Dad spent hours that night dismantling and cleaning the machine so it could be used the next day. Love these old machines but you turned your back on them at your peril.

[@yes_head]

@@murraystewartj As I recall one of these small presses was even designed so that you could link 1-color units together to create a 2-color, 3-color (not that anyone ever did that), or even 4-color press. A big printer I used to deal with in the Bay Area had one of these little 4-color presses off to the side, next to their two big 6-color main units and they'd use the little guy for small-run or simpler jobs that didn't require the horsepower or sheet size of the bigger presses. They were workhorses to be sure.

[@57thorns]

@@yes_head Desk top publishing was what you call a disruptive technological breakthrough. While the craftmanship of handling the machines is mostly of historical interest, what really was lost was the type setters know-how on how do design a readable and eyecatching page. Over night, most newspapers lost one step of proof-readring as well, as journalists typed straight to the press. And for large volumes, this is still the cheapest way to produce print, and it has a definite edge in quality, and wider choice of papers than thank ink och laser that is used by most small volume print shops (or hobbyists and in-house printers) today.

[@robertf3479]

At my first duty station, right out of Class "A" School I was assigned to run a "Multilith" printer somewhat similar to this one. That thing was a pain in the butt to keep clean and functioning properly ... and I had to learn it from scratch with not nearly enough instruction. Peter has my deepest respect and admiration. I'm sure on his worst day his product is much better than my best ever was.

[@mctag5317]

Ran a AM Multilith 1250 for over 10 years - so glad to finally get an ABDick 360 - like night and day in comparison.

[@barrythebassplayer]

Wow, what a fantastic overview of this obviously 'finicky' equipment. Peter has the touch to get this just right. No substitute for years of experience here! Thanks for sharing the video!

[@lmo1960]

Peter is a treasure for the USS Salem museum! 10's of thousands of museum guide brochures, and tourism information cards printed! Just a great guy!

[@peterblumberg2314]

Years ago I heard someone say "in a free country you can talk to strangers like they are your friends".I deeply appreciate your comments.Peter Blumberg.

[@cerhart7172]

My father was a Lithographer's Mate on the USS Macon (Baltimore class) from 1951-1955. He probably worked with the same equipment.

[@peterblumberg2314]

Am sure he did.Hard job because takes years to master. He did it at sea unlike me and was learning on the job as I did...on shore as civilian.

[@Trebuchet48]

My Dad served in the Navy from 1943-45. Then he worked many years for a printing company. Going through the printing plant as a little boy was frightening and awesome. Thanks, guys, for the memories of my Dad.

[@Jimorian]

A really good illustration of how when you put that many people on a ship, it really does become a "small town" with all the needs and services required for that many people, including stuff like printing.

[@RickLowrance]

Very cool. That organization is lucky to have that volunteer.

[@slimeydon]

My father became a printer after the war. When he did his reserve duty after he was in ships print shops. Unfortunately I followed him into that field in 1978, have been ever since. This looks like a Multi 1250. The first thing my father did was load a 29” mehile, next I learned to make plates, then I had the misfortune to have to clean it.

[@infidel66687]

Yep looks like a multi 1250 to me too. I've been in printing since 1993. I run a heatset Goss community 4high. It's a newspaper printing 35 inch offset web press. I've been in my current shop for 22 years. I'm on my lunch break right now lol. I was running a multi 1250 right before I started here. I hated that press too lol

[@SocialistDistancing]

Ha. I thought it looked a lot like a 1250 too. I ran a few of them and ab dick , one big Heidelberg. One really old Heidelberg that I recently seen one in a museum. The 1250 could be temperamental. Registration table could be a pain. I haven't run a press in 35 years. The big copiers were just starting to come in to use. I random a couple of those too. . I ran lots of collaters, folders, binders, perforaters, just about everything to do with printing. One thing with this demonstration that I noticed was the strange order of setting up the press. Kind of backwards to me. I remember getting my ink sorted out long before the plate ever went on. Maybe they just did things differently.

[@SeanBZA]

@@SocialistDistancing Probably did this because he ran the press last week, doing the same job, and just cleaned it afterwards, so the same settings are close enough. New blanket wash rollers there, those are pretty expensive to have them revulcanised and refaced. Feed rollers probably are available as pattern parts though, so should be replaced, though that is a fiddly job, though not as bad as fixing the grippers on the impression drum properly, as they wear out eventually.

[@peterblumberg2314]

It's a demanding process.we and your Dad prevailed

[@sgt_s4und3r54]

As someone who has worked in the copier/printer business for 8 years, this is a treat. Duplicators are very similar to this but use very different materials to essentially do the same thing in a more compact shape without the whole water system.

[@talis84]

I remember using a similar printing press in HS. I am NOT that old, I graduated HS in 2002, but the old print shop had similar equipment, slightly smaller, and no air system to grab the paper. BRING BACK SHOP CLASS!!!

[@DaBean1]

I remember this in vocational school in the late 80's and knew at the time that it was an end of an era. None the less, it was something that I appreciated learning about. Absolutely bring back vocational school. I learned more at Vo-Tech than I did at college thanks to the hands on level of education.

[@mrennick]

Shop and home-ec were great classes. Learned a lot.

[@seatedliberty]

I went to a math and science high school but it still required a full two years of shop class. One of my classes was print shop and we did our own typesetting, lithography, wood cuts, and even some intaglio. There was even a field trip to see how a linotype machine worked. I agree 100% that all high school students should have to take at least one shop class.

[@charlesmaroon8819]

I loved shop classes so much I received a BA in Industrial Arts.

[@wastedapathy22]

I’m in the same boat, I learned how to operate a press like that one in my high school’s print shop class in the mid-90s. Machine was finicky and went through a lot of paper when setting up, but I learned a lot and had fun. Watching the video brings back memories…heck the machine sounds just like the one we had. I’d stand next to it bobbing my head to the rhythm as it was churning away.

[@josephstevens9888]

"It makes the water wetter".... I like that explanation - best one yet!

[@tominiowa2513]

That description is usually used for detergents.

[@mrennick]

To answer Ryan’s question, I’m an aerospace engineer who has had hands on experience keeping aging aircraft flying. Retiring and working with a museum is on my list of things to do. I’m sure that some of these skills could support a museum ship as well.

[@peterblumberg2314]

Dear Mr Rennick I don't know where u live but I got something for you.Of course you would be welcomed on the Salem. However there is an aircraft museum in Virginia where u may find a better fit. It is in Virginia Beach so far from the beach that we don't see water. Maybe that is a county. Yes there are amazing air museums . However Wings Over the Beach can claim that 98% of the aircraft actually fly. They go from WW1 craft to WW2. including Fokers ...Spit Fire... P51 Mustang... Junkers paratroop transport and Ww2. German jet fighter. They borrowed original from US Navy and fabricated a copy! They have events with flying aircraft.They have fulltime mechanics. Of course the jet Messerschit needs to take off/land from "real"runway because museum has concrete tarmac and grass field that could have debris not good for. jet plane. The museum has one owner whose name is never divulged. Perhaps you could visit and get to go "out back" where the mechanics are working. They have a buzz bomb. That does not fly but claim they have fired up a working engine! Check it out.

[@mrennick]

@@peterblumberg2314 Thanks for the note! I haven't visited that museum yet, but I have heard of it and their flying aircraft collection. Amazing dedication by all involved! I am in Atlanta. I've done some technical support on the Delta Flight Museum on their DC-3 and their 747 display.

[@peterblumberg2314]

Mr Rennick you might bring the Hulk of chopper that was on ship in the day as she had those aircraft. Aside from that you could work in the functional air craft hanger. Otherwise your knowledge and skill is so good a fit for old ship

[@dave-j-k]

A great intro to print, as a retired press operator of 45 years, i know exactly what it smells and sounds like in there :) Wonderful. My early machines were the UK version of the Multilith, the Gestetner, lovely little machines.

[@tomkavulic7178]

"...but we'll run the gauntlet, that's how you gotta do it, you gotta push it a little bit..." wise words Peter.

[@grandwaha]

Wow this takes me back. My friend and I completely rebuilt one very similar to this in highschool around 1994 for 2 marking periods. There was a parts donor in the crawl space of the basement since the 70s. We learned so much it was 10 to 15 years older than the other 2 in the shop. We learned every step of the process and made all the play bills and sports schedules. When you get them set right you can crank out a few thousand sheets beautifully. We were in that class for three years. Very hard to get good at it.

[@roderickloudspeakerservice578]

My dad was a Pressman. When I was a kid he would to take me to work with him during the summer when school was out. This video brought back a lot of very fond memories.

[@danethier7654]

Great episode,Peter has great pride/looks like enjoy showing off the printing machine

[@b.w.22]

I loved this so much, thank you. More than gunnery or compass repeaters or mess decks, this demonstration did more to bring the day-to-day business aboard a ship to life for me. I could smell the ink and paper and could imagine the men clustered in this room while at sea and with a rolling deck, attending to their duties within the enormous vessel. Again, thank you to Ryan, the team from New Jersey, and the guys bringing Salem to life every day.

[@markbowen3638]

My parents ran a print shop in the UK in the early 1970's and I remember their Multilith machines which were identical to this. The noises and the smells of the print room are indelibly stuck in my memory! With all the modern technologies it's easy to forget just what was involved in printing stuff that today we take for granted. My dad served a five year apprenticeship to run machines like this. Great seeing one running after all these years!

[@shook0002]

Brings back memories of high school. I ran a small Hamada press just like that in print shop. From using the typesetter, burning the plates, to actually running the press I did it all. Good times!

[@leelawrence1557]

I knew the guy who ran the Print Shop on USS New Jersey. His name was LI1 (SW) Leo Scully. He is a great guy and was hilarious to be around. Knew his rate too.

[@invadegreece9281]

Dang

[@stealth9639]

Great to see someone so passionate for his work, even as a volunteer.

[@FrancSchiphorst]

The automatic flow of his fingers to adjust this that and the other is just great to see :) Awesome!

[@TheEvertw]

This episode sure made in impression ;-)

[@keithspillman]

This man defines pride. A GREAT episode.

[@sbbaer]

Peter is the man. Thanks for the video. Hopefully he is passing the knowledge on to next generation.

[@Token_Civilian]

Wow! Great vid. I hope the Salem can spend some time with Peter to get what he knows about the period machine taken down in writing or on video, or better still both. He obviously knows the ins and outs of that printer and the little adjustments it needs to turn out a quality product. It is critical for a man with his years of experience to pass that along to the next generation, not only by doing as he is now, but also by teaching.

[@octoman_games]

Analog technology is SOOO incredible

[@fishpotpete]

that brought back some high school memories. I took offset printing in the mid-70's (although it was the photographic plate??? - I don't remember) and loved doing it. I also remember a friend got his finger pined on one of those sharp spikes that hold the plate in... I had a flashback of blood in the machine as soon as you snapped the cover part into place. Thank you Peter for doing a great job explaining the process and keeping the equipment going!

[@SeanBZA]

Offset printing you got either paper plates (under 500 copies, but 1000 plus if you did not mind it being a little scraggy near the end) which were cheap, or aluminium plates for longer jobs. Then also you had the Diazo machines, which used an alcohol based ink, and a waxed paper plate, and which would churn out copies till the plate basically wore away the wax.

[@grandwaha]

That gave me a flashback one of my friends got his finger messed up the same way back in highschool almost the same year as this machine and we were using it in 94

[@daletek1]

Love the Shaws bag holding all the printer gear! Very Quincy. Really, these guys do a great job. The Salem is a treasure.

[@peterblumberg2314]

Yeah She is. Volunteers and Board of Directors all working hard. Quincy Massachusetts got some old and new werewhithal.

[@joeythedime1838]

Great video and amazing that Peter has been volunteering for such a long period of time. Reminds me of the Ditto machines we use to use in school - I can still remember the smell of the blue ink and the paper being slightly damp.

[@wastedapathy22]

That is so cool, and brings back memories. I learned how to run a similar setup in my high school’s graphic design/printing class in the mid-90s. Learned how to shoot film, printing plates, loading them into the press, adjusting the feed system, ink rollers, etc. for printing school flyers and misc. documents. Finicky machine, but a fun class for what’s a lost art these days. Can’t imagine the class lasted much longer after I graduated, what with computer technology and much more advanced printing tech.

[@ianmacpherson2409]

THat is a Multielith 1250 After I quit the web press went to a Multi 1275. The 1275 had a sheet fliping device mad by the devil. There were 2 printing heads just like Peters. We printed education courses by the millions. Then I moved up to Miehle 28 inch single colour that was heaven sent. Good on ya guys.

[@thesamhandwich_]

Went and visited our friend Peter at the USS Salem today - thanks for reminding me I had a great museum ship in my own backyard. First time there, but looking forward to going back.

[@peterblumberg2314]

You are friends of the ship.

[@kimopuppy]

I use to work for a weekly sales paper and they had a 4 color printing press larger then a city bus. It took a day to tweak that huge printing press then it ran for 3 or 4 days straight until they had the run all finished

[@lubstorfk]

I ran a Multilith back in my freshman year of high school. We were a vocational H.S. and covered all aspects of printing. We even did our own yearbooks including the bindery. My Dad (who was a letterpressman) talked me out of printing for a living. Ended up going into the Navy after graduation and got into advance electronics as a Fire Control Technician. I still think fondly of those days in a trade that's for all intensive purposes gone these days.

[@DrewBe59635]

WOW! Awesome to see the press working. Sad that the video is washed out. What a resource Peter is.

[@Name-ps9fx]

The printer with its big drum and mechanical sounds reminds me a lot of my small schools' printer, which was used in making worksheets for the students....this was mid-1970s. I remember the "fresh off the press" papers had a distinct smell, like radishes.

[@jockellis]

A really cool sound is one of these Multiliths running while the Heidleberg Windmill beside it is numbering tickets and someone is addressing newspapers on the Addressograph near that. I bet listening to this symphony while stoned would be awesome.

[@boogts]

Printing press Drew Carrey is a wizard at a now ancient craft, on an ancient craft.

[@clawhammer704]

Used to run this machine and a AB Dick printer. We had a four color run Hidelburg press too in a private civilian shop.

[@zeedub8560]

My paternal grandfather, a WWII vet and Bell Telephone engineer, was an old-school printer in retirement, with a simple hand-feed press and an awesome old Klugee automatic. When I was a teenager he started trying to get me to move in with him and go to work and talked about how we'd get an offset press, probably thinking about an old small press like this. I've never really known what an offset press was, but now I do. Great video, my grandfather would have loved it.

[@peterblumberg2314]

That is a touching story because your Grampa was a printer in letterpress. He made his mark and wanted to share that with you as you have with us.all us printers follow someone's footsteps...even strangers. We share a fine tradition of the world's first mass communication.

[@zeedub8560]

@@peterblumberg2314 I learned enough from him to find printing videos like this endlessly fascinating and can usually follow along with what the printer is doing. My grandfather made everyone's business cards on his hand press. One run was set up and done entirely by me, but that's as far as I went in the craft. But I know how type cabinets are laid out and other printer's lore that he shared with me. He knew tons about old technology and used to point out the exact name of each part on old machines we'd see on display at the local State Fair. "Terminology!" he'd say. Anyway, I hope Peter has an apprentice. Maybe someone will see this vid and go volunteer.

[@sgwilsonmd]

My father retired as an LIC (Chief Petty Officer - Lithographer) He was a plank holder on the Guadalcanal LPH7. His favorite job was "stripping" or proofing the photographic negative. (this machine used an metal plate) He retired from the Navy in 1968 (20 yr) and worked for the Boston Globe and other companies for 30+ years. They kept him around to make changes the the early Photoshop was unable to do in the 90s. He passed this year.

[@josephstevens9888]

Sorry for your loss sir.

[@peterblumberg2314]

In printing your Dad was superstar .Had responsibility for 3 story high presses. I am small press guy.

[@estebanwrapacki]

Way to go Peter!

[@DrJRaven]

In the 60s just like this one. They were an excellent machine with very good registration.

[@carlmcginty4337]

I’m coming to the New Jersey on the 20th!! I’ve been watching for the channel for months.

[@g-3409]

I worked at a print shop and used a Heidelberg printer from the same era. Brings back memories watching this.

[@sfperalta]

Makes you really appreciate modern color printers!

[@ShowCat1]

I used to run a 2550 Multilith. Very similar to this maching. Great memories. Thanks

[@johnslaughter5475]

I was waiting for the jam. When I first started in data processing on the Ranger, we were using IBM punch cards for everything. The S-1 Supply inventory of over 100,000 items had an individual card for each item. S-6 Aviation Supply had over 80,000. When we sorted the cards, they went through an IBM 084 sorter at 2000 cards per minute. The feed throats were gapped at .007". What a mess when a card didn't make it through. The same thing on the card transporter along the top of the machine. The only thing was that we couldn't just throw them out. We had to piece all the cards together and smooth out the wrinkles so we could go make new cards. The people in data processing now have no idea what we went through 50 years ago. Another 40 years earlier, before my time, it was even worse. The Navy moves along to keep up with the newest technology.

[@peterblumberg2314]

IBM cards jamming :those people understand tedium and borderline futility and how they still foots do job

[@peterblumberg2314]

Still have to finish job no matter how difficult.we learn how to run machines so they don't run us.

[@18robsmith]

Seeing that litho working reminded me of the days running off copies of the school magazine/news letter. I could almost smell the process. Great work Peter, thanks Ryan for helping us see such work.

[@peterblumberg2314]

U were printers for /at your schools.

[@phxbofh]

Great job Peter! Very fascinating

[@chrisjohnson4666]

So cool guys like that are a rare treasure

[@mallrat1960]

This reminds me of high school print shop ran a big hildelburg offset press. Lot of good memories.

[@zodszoo]

Great episode, thanks for sharing this, excellent content. Enjoyed watching the press and Peter.

[@catscan64]

Looks like a AM Multigraphics 1250 printing press. My Dad was a Yeoman in the Navy on board the USS Guardfish SSN 612 and operated a small mimeograph machine. Post navy he got a job working for AM Multigraphics repairing these machines. In my younger years he trained me to operate the 1250 and 1650 variants. Verey common presses and are seen for sale almost anywhere. Parts are still available for these machines. Thanks for sharing. Brings back lots of memories.

[@toddmetzger]

I remember working with a little more friendly machine when I was younger in a church office environment back in the 1980's. Even had a mimeograph too, that was used before the lithograph printer. Had a scanner and early laser with a chemical wash that created the sheet blank.

[@lawrencemarocco8197]

Ah, memories. I operated an offset printer back in the 60's. Humidity, temperature, all needed to be adjusted for to keep paper from misfeeding of jamming. Plus getting the right right water/ink settings. Making plates was also a challenge using a Xerox Number One camera.

[@AdMan-The-LabRat]

Public Suburban Maryland High School - 9th Grade electives: 1982-1983 Print Shop and Photography, 10th Grade: 1983-1984 Print Shop 2 & Photography 2 (All four courses taught by the same teacher - Thanks Mr. Zimmer "MotorCycle" Man). I was encouraged to take a foreign language instead, however I opted instead for a moor practical route and thank goodness I did we had two of those printers and a Heidelberg couple of folding machines a couple of paper Cutters (NO! you do not cut coins on a paper cutter, best way to ruin the blade). Great times the 1980's!

[@shaider1982]

Reminds me of the mimeograph machines used to print out exams when I was in grade school

[@ghost307]

I ran those in school. I was the resident nerd until I graduated.

[@SuperRootUser]

I remember those from grade school. It had a hand crank and the school secretary had a roller of ink to make it work. The print quality was horrible. In high school we finally got a xerox and every teacher seemed to love it. That freed up the mimeograph for the students. So many garage bands would print their fliers on the mimeograph.

[@ianbutler1983]

Yeah, the sheets were sort of damp and had a funny smell.

[@ghost307]

@@ianbutler1983 Are you remembering the 'Ditto' machine with the blue ink where the whole sheet was moist? We had both that type (where you only got 50 copies per master) as well as the machine like he was running that used ink and made as many copies as you wanted. Most of the school stuff like tests and handouts were the former because it was cheaper.

[@robertsansone1680]

I worked with a few WW2 machines in an old factory in Dallas. Printing machines, lathes etc. They had War Production Board I.D. plates attached. You got to hand it to those Old Timers. Simple, strong & reliable. Kind of like the men they had in those days.

[@peterblumberg2314]

A) men and woman got involved in war effort. Unlike today men made the machines i.e. created them . women and men worked in factories and shipyards.i know what u mean they were completely thoughtful making all the machines

[@robertsansone1680]

@@peterblumberg2314 My mother worked in a bomber plant in Detroit. My father was shot down over Berlin. I was raised in a VA neighborhood. This is why I look up to that generation.

[@freddiecarr7602]

Thank you, Peter!

[@davidschick6951]

I worked at the print trade for almost 6 years. These were civilian jobs- I never did large-scale printing in the military. I hated Hated HATED the constant jams and general foulups. But it was cool to get to be one of the first in town to read the newspaper.

[@GaryED44]

So paper jams are older then I thought LOL!

[@brandonreinventshimself]

This is officially one of the coolest videos on KZbin....

[@peterblumberg2314]

Thanx.the shop is /was too cool to leave alone.

[@alanrogers7090]

This was a fun episode. I'm retired, but I used to sell all of the things Peter mentioned, the rollers, the blankets, the inks, etc. Also the paper stocks. We could supply anything from 8-1/2"x11" up to "parent sheets", which measured 24"x36". and could supply 8 8-1/2"x11" sheets, 4 11"x17" sheets. By having a larger size sheet and cutting it down after the printing was done, allows for the possibility of printing a pages to the "bleed", or, in other words, be able to be printed to the edge of the sheet, like the photos in a magazine fill the pages. With copy machines such as people might have in their homes, you must leave spaces all around to allow the paper to be grabbed by the machine. For "professionally printed" projects, this would be unacceptable, as the customer musually wants the largest photos or splashes of color to cover the page, not have a plain border around it.

[@ericmyerson1663]

Brings me way back to my days in junior high and high school in the print shop running the offset presses!

[@jamieknight326]

This was really good.

[@shoominati23]

I remember in primary school back in the 80s they still had one of those old Gestetner machines, when they used to run off copies of some worksheet the memory of the purple ink and smell of the evaporating alcohol and the teacher asking you to wave them around to help them dry quicker

[@SudaNIm103]

I love watching an expert do their thing!

[@nancyperkins4984]

Wonderful information. So concise and a little humour.

[@JP-su8bp]

Host: "I find that absolutely amazing"

[@uaetub]

Reminds me of the old Ditto machines in school. I remember some were motorized and some had hand cranks. I also remember the cans of toner and how it would evaporate immediately

[@gpclipner]

That was fun. I used to run one those lithos as a youth at my dads envelope company.

[@ryanthomas2374]

Ive used alot of presses not for printing but for other manufacturing processes. you got to be on top of them for sure.

[@gregoryolson1782]

All of you guys really kick ass. Thank you for sharing. So cool

[@pauldonovan4572]

I took print shop in Farmington HS in 82 83 good times can still smell the ink

[@BlackEpyon]

Like I keep saying about my own hobby, vintage/retro computing, getting the damn things to work is often just as much fun as playing with them afterwards.

[@peterblumberg2314]

Way beyond hobby.

[@tapalmer99]

It's amazing the technology back then everything was mechanical with very little mechanical computer was available and everything was done by feel and sound

[@tucorameriz3538]

Fantastic video!

[@josephbaca1899]

Pretty snazzy... something I would have never thought about. Interesting.

[@ignaciocortez8200]

Great Video, I'm Trained on Copiers and Printers, and I had only heard of Liquid Toner/Ink Printers, I'm glad I got to see something similar to what was relayed to me while working with some of these older technicians :-)

[@bf7504]

Best channel on KZbin change my mind

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

the multi would have been later tech than ww2, would be interesting to know what the original equipment on NJ was- letterpress likely

[@richardfulton9398]

USS Blue Ridge had a couple of these in communications central when she was commissioned way back in 71, they were eventually replaced by a couple of big Xerox machines in mid seventies. We had to make so many copies the Xerox machines were always breaking down, but they were a lot easier to use, no training required, just push buttons.

[@willdsm08]

When I started working in advertising, all printing was done like this. Old School. When I retired, just about everything was automatic. One thing that never changed, however, was that the printer never discovered a mistake in the copy until AFTER the print run was finished.

[@peterblumberg2314]

Finally I work at shop that makes me check copy.1st place I worked that insisted on it for employees and customers who sign off on proof.

[@michaellucht6351]

My Dad worked for AM the company that built those machines, he also ran print shop on the side and he taught my brother and myself. We both ended up aircraft Mechanic's.

[@peterblumberg2314]

When I fly I am so grateful for you mechanics. I think about that cause I love to fly.

[@johnknapp952]

In my first squadron in the 70's we used a mimeograph machine to print all the squadron specific forms we needed. I helped with typing up the carbon paper and running the machine. Kind of the same principal as the lithograph but a lot cheaper and easier to use. Was glad to be done with that and get into the AT shop to do my real job. But a lot of these little TAD (temporary assigned duty) jobs can be fun and useful knowledge.

[@tomnewham1269]

There is another benefit from doing TAD such as printing etc. It teaches people to think, to problem solve, get people out of their comfort zone and work with different people. Today's education system (I'm speaking about Australia's) is just spoon feeding and not teaching people to think and use their brains.

[@peterblumberg2314]

Printing is not for everyone. I kinda got stuck with it and rode the wave.

[@peterblumberg2314]

Good point thankyou. The shop probably supplied forms to 6th fleet in the Med when she was flagship.

[@johnhouchins3156]

I worked in a neighborhood job shop while in High School and operated the same press. My boss pointed out to me one day that because I didn't have it set up quite right, I was making 1000 mistakes per hour!

[@peterblumberg2314]

That was daunting.kinda glad I am maybe u got into something else

[@maytagmark2171]

We had a very similar press at Cory Rawson when I was there back in the late 70s. early 80s.

[@maytagmark2171]

I had to smile a little extra as Peter was working to get it set up to print acceptably. I remember the shop teacher John Eddi fighting the press to get it to print as he wanted it to.

[@carmatic]

the more Battleship New Jersey videos i watch, the more i wish i could donate an old head mounted GoPro camera to them! it would have been useful when crawling around the battleship's spaces, and it would have been fantastic if it was worn by the printer man in this video! the majority of the video is him working on the far side of the machine from the camera, it would be nice to see exactly what he sees, what he's doing and all the actions of the machine

[@peterblumberg2314]

Have at and show new tech. U have a niche.

[@Strato13]

How Beautiful.. Why fix or replace such a piece of art, technology, engineering, if it isn't broken. Glad these older pieces of machinery are still active!