This is Colossal:
On July 2, 1978 the New York Times made a significant technological leap when they scuttled the last of 60 manually-operated linotype machines to usher in the era of digital and photographic typesetting. When working at 100% efficiency with an experienced operator the Linotype machines could produce 14 lines per minute cast on the spot from hot lead. That number would increase to 1,000 lines per minute the very next day using an array of computers and digital storage.
In our “digital age”, we forget (or never knew) about how things used to be done. While there’s no doubt the new method is better, the old method is fascinating.
How they ever managed to get a paper out each day amazes me – now all we get is celebrity crap and gossip. Sigh,
We had three Linotype machines in my high school print shop; gifts of the local paper after they’d moved to phototypesetting in the late 60’s. They were amazing to use. Lord know where they went since our school district de-emphasized industrial arts in the 80’s.
I can’t technically “like” that post, so I’ll just reply and say. Yup. It’s too bad.
I remember about a year or two ago, I was called by someone doing a poll. She asked what news source do you trust and started reading some off. I told her to stop and asked if she had a “none” category. She said she did but asked if I wanted to hear the rest. I told her no. Bottom line? I have to double check and cross reference more and more everyday now. I don’t know what to trust. I know who NOT to trust, you know, like Fox News for instance. Sigh for sure.
Saved for later. This article is going to make me very sad.
I started out with phototypesetting, barely missing hot-metal type by a few years, I think. If I haven’t lost it, somewhere in my collection of childhood things is a piece of lead type that was handed out to my elementary school’s class on a tour of the New York Times production plant.
My second phototypesetting job (c. 1985-1994) was down the street from Playbill’s production offices, where they were still using Linotypes.