[GreenKeys] Linotype in Orange County, CA:

[Keelan Lightfoot]

As one of the other Linotype owners on this list, I thought I'd poke my head in this discussion, if only to raise awareness. I don't think an interest in letterpress is even required to own one of them. In modern terms of reference, they provide about the same functional value as a Teletype or a bucket of sand. When people ask you "But what do you need it for?" you soon find yourself speaking like an artist defending a piece of obscure modern art.

They certainly stand out for their ability to generate interesting adventures. Driving a couple hundred miles to pick up a Teletype is fun, but not very challenging. Going the same distance to pick up a 3600 lb top heavy overgrown typewriter is an entirely different adventure. The looks you get and conversations that start up when you stop for gas are priceless.

- Keelan

(Who owns one Linotype, which is presumed to be operational.)
 
On 2012-06-01, at 11:01 AM, dmm at lemur.com wrote:

> 
> John Nagle wrote:
>> This Linotype is available in Orange County for only $500.
>> http://www.briarpress.org/30564
>> You have to move it.
>> These are magnificent machines, but weigh about 3300 pounds, require 
>> heavy power, use molten lead, and need a skilled mechanic. This is a 
>> Model 8, the 1911 model.  Does anyone have the resources for this?
> 
> If anyone does decide to take the plunge into "hot metal,"
> a) yes, it can be done (in fact, there are at least two members of this list
>   other than myself who have acquired Linotypes)
> b) yes, there are resources for their maintenance and operation
>   within the letterpress printing community.
>   (There are even a few people left who maintain them professionally.
>   Also, the International Printing Museum in Carson, CA, is a good
>   resource fairly close to this particular machine.)
> It isn't necessarily easy, but it can be done.  
> 
> It is always sad to see another go.  They're like Teletypes in that
> once they were everywhere (over 150,000 made in the US alone),
> then they were "worthless junk" fit only for scrap, and pretty soon 
> they will, all of a sudden, have vanished from the wild. 
> 
> Regards,
> David M.
> (Who has eight Linotypes, one of which is operational (and running
> right now, as it happens.))
> http://www.circuitousroot.com/artifice/letters/press/cr-stuff/quicklook/index.html
> ===
> Dr. David M. MacMillan  -  dmm at lemur.com
> 
>   The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts.
>       - Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915); Aldo Leopold
> 
> www.CircuitousRoot.com   *  www.LemurType.com   *  www.Lemur.com
> 
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