Letterpress Humour from Yester Year

Fairly Recently, re discovered Letterpress Humour from a long long time ago, first seen, (but mayhap even older!!) Mid 50,s???KEY IN on Google!! **Laymans Guide to the Printers Anatomy**.

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That’s good! I enjoyed seeing it. How did you ever find it?

Geoff

Geoffrey, Sir, glad you liked it, the author was Ronald Searle, fairly well known and appreciated cartoonist, contributed to our National Press over many years, His stock in trade was always, or usually, caricatures with long noses, he illustrated for many many childrens books, and about 1956-57, the firm where I did my apprenticeship printed, or subcontracted, one such book, so we, on the firm, saw a first generation copy, which was (of course) reproduced, and printed up, sort of without a docket number/job bag???
I half heartedly keyed in *laymans Guide etc* on Google and was surprised to find it published, but pleased to repost it, but it may just prompt the new devotees to check out the expressions and where they came from. >Thanks. Mick.<

I thought everybody in the UK has this near the press, to keep the customers amused before you told them the cost of their job.

Mick, that type of job, which were done for employees and friends without any money being paid for them, we used to call a “Government Job”

I worked in one engraving plant where the management didn’t mind doing them, sort of as a kindness to those who wanted them, but they decided they wanted to see how much it was costing the plant to do all those jobs. So, they set up an informal accounting system for them. All Government Jobs were assigned a “GJ number” which the departments in the plant charged their time and materials to, when they did those jobs.

Things are so competitive these days that I doubt if you would ever see that any more!

Geoffery, thank you, Yes, same scene different name(s) way back, P.J. private job, bandit, pirate etc etc, but all out of the back door,?? But I swear as early as the 3rd year of my apprenticeship, 56/57 had and Adana 5 x 3 at home, set the type straight into the chase, (and before Johnny Cash,s *one piece at a time even) took it home in the lunch box, printed it and then, when nobody was in sight tapped it straight into the 5 cwt remelting furnace, as we used to say *the pot tells no tales* but even then took some stick at Home, with a RUSH job through the night, (ocasionally) the Adana had/has an annoying quirk of, when in use, at full tilt the finger that pushes the ink disc around gives a very annoying ting, ting, ting on every impression, so had to pacify the Mum as well!! . Thanks again. Mick. .

Mick, interesting to hear of your experiences in times past. Thanks for posting them.

Best, Geoff