Original Heidelberg Printing Press
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- jevad
http://www.hongkongphotography.c…
No words could do ample justice to the excitement and amazement I felt as I was walking past this shop yesterday and realised what he was printing on...
(Tested on mac ff and safari - PC users pls let me know if you get any problems! Thanks!)
- BonSeff0
thats awesome
- inhaler970
WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
- flavorful0
That is pretty awesome ... and ridiculous given how big his work environment is as such, haha.
- epigraph0
I think they made those things from 1912 up to the 60's. We had one where I used to work, and it was relegated to numbering tickets....
- jevad0
"Eventually, presses were designed from the ground up with automatic feed units. The dominant press of this type is the Original Heidelberg (colloquially known in America, although not Europe, as the "Windmill" for its moving arms) created in pre-war Germany. It was, and remains, the epitome of automated platen press design, and is a highly versatile press that can operate almost unattended, printing up to 5000 copies an hour of anything from thin business cards to boxes on cardboard. More Original Heidelbergs were sold than any other printing press in history, and it is the primary press in use today for the few remaining commercial letterpress printers ($2000-$7500 for a Heidelberg, depending on model, features and condition, with the newer 'Red Ball' units somewhat more desirable; much less for other brands). If only new will do, however, Brandtjen & Kluge, which continues to be run by the same family that founded the company in 1907, will still sell motorized letterpress platen presses, on a made-to-order basis (primarily for the export market) for about $35,000."
- studderine0
they have one where i went to school
- sikma0
classy shots
- capn_ron0
I love letterpress. I have an old 10950's Kluge 12x18 platen press in my garage. The thing is like a train.
That guys shop is about the size of a large bathroom. Pretty amazing that he can cope with the space.
Great shots too.
- organic_grid0
One of Germany's best damn' exports, surpasses the Porsche.
- pascii0
this is so awesomwe! i'd wish, this times would come back : )
here's some pictures from the "satzwerkstatt" in my home cityhttp://www.satzwerkstatt.ch/img/…
http://www.satzwerkstatt.ch/img/…
http://www.satzwerkstatt.ch/img/…
http://www.satzwerkstatt.ch/img/…
http://www.satzwerkstatt.ch/site…
- szymon_k0
They have 3 of these at one of the places I freelance for. The guy is gonna show me how to use it and let me play around with his wood and metal type library. I'm super excited.
- jevad0
I'm currently trying to source someone in the design community here who speaks fluently enough to take me down there and try to blag some time on it!
- miespaties0
I used to work on this type of press when i was in high school. It was the first machine we, as students, were allowed to work on as introduction to the printing process. Later on in the education, we'd work on offset presses off course. These Original Heidelbergs were very delicate and a lot could go wrong that could ruin the machine; so the teachers were very strict about how we handled them. So for me: pure nostalgia.
- invisiblechamber0
i had a couple of small jobs printed on a heidelberg in a printshop here in my street in the early 90s. they showed me how it works and allowed me to mix my own ('pantone-what?') colours. i especially remember the sound of the machines. shop and heidelbergs are still there and running today. i'm waitng for the opportunity to use it again :-)
- jevad0
Was it easy to use?
- miespaties0
Yes, it's very easy if you have basic knowledge of printing processes. I saw one recently at a printers open day and everything came back to me. After more than 10 years, I think I would still be able to operate it. I find it easier than offset presses where more variables influence your result. I do remember, back in the days, that the spare parts were very expensive.