The Last Run at the Schuylkill Printing Plant

At the age of 192, The Philadelphia Inquirer is stopping its own presses for good and will be outsourcing its print operations in line with newspapers across the country that are cutting costs and fighting a media universe changing at the speed of breaking news. During the last run of the presses, a "family" of employees marks the end of an era.
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[@stevelawson68]

My father worked for the Goss company in Cicero, IL. He served a machinist apprenticeship and then went on the road installing Goss presses. He was eventually offered a service manager position and took it. The company was sold to Rockwell International in the early 70s. At this point, they were building the largest printing presses in the world, and my father was in charge of service and installs of new printing presses. His job eventually became international, and he traveled the world. The last 20 years of his career focused on the Indo-Pacific region. His itineraries were mainly: Hong Kong,Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China,Australia, and New Zealand . He had a wonderful career in the printing field and was a good provider for us. He still loves to talk about his travel adventures. This is truly sad!

[@TheDarthRoacho]

Just watched this. Currently a pressmen, and this scares me tbh. The printed word is dying out, and I love it so much. I dont hate going to work everyday, I like MOST of the people I work with, and most importantly, I LOVE doing the work. This really hits hard as our workflow has diminished drastically over the years. I hope everyone in the video went on to bigger and better things, and truly cherish the important work that they did.

[@thedavesiknow4598]

Beautifully worded.

[@t.h.8475]

I worked at a newspaper/publishing company in the late 80's. My Mom worked there before me. I started out on the mailroom, worked in the darkroom and layout. I loved it. My favorite was the darkroom. Sadly the newspaper I worked at is not daily anymore and doesn't even print their own newspaper anymore. We used to print so many different circulars. There is something special about local newspapers. I felt honored to work there. I had the privilege of working with people who had worked there for decades. We had good times and sad times.

[@zetawolfgang5106]

I’m working for the printing company my grandfather started in the 70’s. Hurts my heart to see things like this.

[@carlosariasluyando5104]

Muy cierto, pero es la realidad, que yo también he pasado

[@chrislemery8178]

Sad to watch. I saw this happen at my first print job (much smaller newspaper). This is happening more and more to print productions. They start by outsourcing to other newspapers for print and I imagine eventually a large portion will go out of business altogether and a small portion will be able to adapt. Neat video.

[@seig007too]

I am 64 years old now and was in the business from 18 years old, I went from newspaper stacker to traveling the world installing presses for manufacture. Thought I would make it to retirement but at 60 everything stopped. Sure was a great run

[@carlosariasluyando5104]

También trabajé con las rotativas Goss Urbanite y es difícil aceptar que las rotativas dejarán de imprimir pronto.

[@annmariefuhrmann2633]

Was a printer for 45 years when I started working in 1977 tons of printing jobs everywhere. I was lucky enough to keep a job in my trade because all those jobs are gone

[@thedavesiknow4598]

😭seriously, that is so sad. I hope all those people found some peace. ❤READ THE NEWSPAPER❤

[@larryharry7221]

The Inquirer sold you guys out. They print the paper in New Jersey now.

[@markburns7065]

My dad worked for the Inquirer for 40 years

[@nicksmith3147]

Made it 18 years myself before we got shut down. End of an era for sure

[@evanheffley1625]

RR Donnelley for 20 years, miss running a press every day.

[@westerlywinds5684]

I was a offset pressman for 35 years. Then I changed occupation. Best decision I made.

[@Gilgo-Beach-Slayer]

I used to run GOSS metroliners and TKS presses in New york for 30 plus years. What kind of work did you pursue Good luck

[@westerlywinds5684]

@@Gilgo-Beach-Slayer I quit after 35 years, running a 40” 6 colour + aquas coater Heidelberg SM102 press. After 35 years I had enough of standing and sniffing IPA, solvents. I was considered a good pressman but I had hit the challenge ceiling. I got my tour bus / coach qualifications and I now drive tourists around and bring them to cruise ships and airports. Better pay, no standing, wear a tie to work now, get to meet international people from all over. If you ask me if I regretted becoming a printer, I say no way, as I loved what I did. From toe-tags, NCR forms, to menu’s and financial reports. I’ve seen it all, done it all. I always loved coaches and aircraft alike. Cheers!

[@carlosariasluyando5104]

Hay que aceptar la realidad, después de 7 años fuera de las rotativas, me encuentro trabajando en otro rubro.

[@shawnroddick7523]

I am 16yrs in. Hoping we dont ever see the closure. 😢

[@Mxsmanic]

Was it just this one newspaper shutting down or the whole plant? If the plant is so huge and printing multiple newspapers, it's hard to believe that they all ended their print editions at the same time.

[@bobnick2496]

We were printing the daily inquirer and daily news tabloid, the WSJ and NYT. At the end. We lost about 20 newspapers over the years. When the plant was deciding its closing the NY papers left which left us in a massive facility with 9 presses. running about a total of 100k papers a night on 2 presses. Only clocking 4 hour shifts getting paid for the whole shift. Mismanagement is a major problem in the industry. They thought the money flow would never stop coming

[@shawnroddick7523]

@@bobnick2496 lmao we just got the nyt this year ....we haven't gotten a good score "yet"! My supervisors are trying to get things fixed and upper management is coming down hard on them. Problem is we are years into letting things go and upper management doesn't want to put the money out to fix things. Don't want to do irons and bearers. Don't want to change blankets unless absolutely necessary- cheapest ink -cheapest paper. It's just crazy they want to quality but give of cheap products. We do what we can but can only do so much 😅

[@TucaMotonTV12]

So sad. They shut us down in 2020

[@corygreene4752]

What was the shift schedule at the plant before it closed?

[@1949LA-ARCH]

Sad 😢

[@fousaephan9111]

I use to work at RR Donnolley when I was younger. We did phone books and had way less people in our departments. I don't think they were doing things legally as I myself had to work hard as hell to float between press departments and also work a night shift then go home 2 hours then work a 12 hour shift. The things people do. We had KB presses that were bought from LA I think they were the fastest printing presses on the west coast. Verizon, ATT, Yellowpage and all that bad times and shitty pay. I wonder what you all were getting paid. I was getting like 11.30 an hour in 2007.

[@bobnick2496]

Our prsses ran 50k-60k/hr. We were making 30/hr when it closed in 2021. Actually make more now working on a sheetfed press printing ice cream cartons.

[@jeffreyhotchkiss9451]

In San Francisco? I was in the Graphic Arts Union there for 2 years, 1978-80. Worked on a 2-color Hantscho at Descalso Lithograph on Howard St. Small job shop. I think we had a worker or two fill in from your place for vacations. Our biggest job was 1040 forms for the whole West Coast.

[@sack-rn6zb]

Better get into digital printing

[@dawnsola9699]

So sad!!!😢

[@TCJones]

So sad, but profits come 1st these days, other than the free paper threw my door dont remember the last time i read an actual paper.

[@bobnick2496]

Papers have become bias and now want to tell you how you should feel.

[@phucyouse5316]

Sociologically speaking, what type of social capital relationship exists between the media and it's voyuer/readers/audience?

[@biker4890]

Newspaper is dying