N T I N I G The Monthly Magazine of the British Printing Society R P ‡

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B ISSN 0037 7236 May 2017 Vol.53 No.5 Small Printer Issue No. 629 May 2017 Published by the British Printing Society founded in 1944 by William Brace

Executive Offi cers Non-Executive Offi cers President: Jean Watson Editor: Chris Green 19 Hillbrow Road, Bournemouth, BH6 5NT Noddyshall, Rockshaw Road, Merstham, 01202 429642 Redhill, RH1 3DB [email protected] 01737 644145 Vice President: Paul Hatcher [email protected] 256 Kingfi sher Drive, Woodley Reading, RG5 3LH SP Design: Ron Rookes 01189 666124 01245 611484 [email protected] [email protected] Secretary: Peter Salisbury Membership: Margaret Rookes 4 Doran Drive, Redhill, RH1 6AX 57 Craiston Way, Chelmsford, CM2 8ED 01737 761861 01245 611484 [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer: Mailer: Ron Rookes Vacancy 57 Craiston Way, Chelmsford, CM2 8ED 01245 611484 [email protected] [email protected] Councillor: Sales: Terry Shapland Vacancy Acorn Cottage, 28 Oak Street, Feltwell, Thetford, IP26 4DD Councillor: [email protected] Vacancy Advertising: Ron Watson 19 Hillbrow Road, Bournemouth, BH6 5NT Councillor: Ron Watson 01202 429642 [email protected] 01202 429642 [email protected] Web Master: Ron Rookes PG Councillor: Margaret Rookes 01245 611484 [email protected] 01245 611484 [email protected] Enquiries: John Easson 01828 628001 [email protected] Copy Deadline Librarian: Libby Green Copy must reach the Editor by 6.00pm on 01737 644145 the 13th of the previous month. [email protected] PG Chairman: Rachel Marsh Bundle Items 01409 281326 Members’ non commercial Bundle Items are [email protected] inserted free of charge. 320 copies should be sent to the Mailer by the 25th of the previous PG Mailer: Ron Rookes month. Maximum size A5 or folded to same. 01245 611484 [email protected] www.bpsnet.org.uk

98 | From The Editor | | Chris Green (7614) |

or some reading this the Annual 106 Vicki Barton gives an excellent Convention will be a recent description of a press which is just F(and, I hope, pleasant) memory about as far removed (geographically) – others will have to wait until next as one can get from here. month to read about the weekend. Especially for those who know about It’s never too soon to start planning small platen presses, try your hand at ahead, and if Dorset Branch live up identifying the ‘mystery object’ on page to their own very high standards 111. No prizes, just a certain amount publicity for the 2018 Convention of self-congratulation for those in the (at Bournemouth) will already be know! available. Still with the subject of slightly Meanwhile we have the delights of unusual presses, Ron Watson describes this month’s magazine to enjoy. one that you probably haven’t seen Bob Richardson’s contributions before (page 107). No doubt Bob never fail to delight, and on the next Richardson will be able to produce a page you will find a piece of printing comprehensive history of this machine. history. The name may not be familiar Despite its somewhat DIY appearance, to you but it is a fascinating story: I in the hands of our President it can do wonder sometimes just how many certainly give a good account of itself! hours’ research goes into each of Bob’s More than a handful of members contributions. and friends were able to visit the You may remember from last month Surrey & Sussex Branch Print ’n’ Paper that Pat Swadling left us guessing the Day towards the end of March, some fate of his postcard-sized contribution being attracted by the talk arranged submitted to his local newspaper (and for the afternoon (see page 116). erstwhile employer); you can find out Everyone there enjoyed it, even though on page 110. one or two had heard it already. Mark Members who have been in the habit Ovenden, who gave the talk, was able of attending Conventions over the to sell a couple of copies of his book years will probably be familiar with of the same name – for some reason the name of Robert Atkins. Although I the publishers would not let him have have to confess that I don’t remember more. Anyone who was able to obtain meeting him or his wife, for several a copy (and it’s available on Amazon) years the goody-bag contained a cannot fail to be impressed by both the sample of his work. Although he died content and the quality of the work. some months ago, Jillian has sent in a short article he wrote at the very start of his printing career. Views expressed by individual authors are It is always interesting to hear not necessarily the views of the Society. about members’ travels, and on page All advertisements are accepted in good faith, the Society cannot take responsibility regarding the condition of Cover Image: Front cover of a the goods sold from the advertisements Soldans promotional pamphlet. See Bob nor can it vouch for the accuracy of any Richardson’s article on page 100 statements in any advertisement. 99 | The Story of Soldans | | Bob Richardson (9718) | based upon notes written by Bill Soldan in 1978 o you remember Soldans? This popular machines were manufactured. major printing supply company Many of their ‘Lightning’ proof presses Dtraded for well over 70 years, yet remain in use today and still fetch keen has now disappeared, virtually without prices second-hand. trace. They were an important part of In 1978, ten years after the demise of Britain’s printing trade for nearly three- his family fi rm, Bill Soldan, the 80-year- quarters of a century, but their closure old son of the company founder, was in in 1968 left only a handful of catalogues conversation with Vivian Ridler, printer to the University of Oxford. Bill chatted casually about his working life, when Ridler made a suggestion: “Why don’t you put all of this in writing and send it to the St Bride Printing Library?” Bill Soldan’s recollections were duly committed to paper and the document passed to James Mosley, then librarian at St Bride. It has lain undisturbed in one of the 2500+ red archival boxes which line the shelves of the book stack. Perhaps it is time that Bill’s story found a wider audience. Soldan’s was very much a family fi rm. They lived in north London and Bill’s father, Otto, went to work each day on a steam train of the former Great Northern Railway. In the years leading up to the First World War young Bill would sometimes use the season ticket for his journeys to school, and often visited his father at the company showrooms in Turnmill Street, Farringdon. Otto Soldan, born in and circulars to record their history. 1862, was the youngest of eleven children Soldans sold exotic, imported types, of a Lutheran country parson, ‘as poor as printing presses and fi nishing equipment, a church mouse’. Poverty did not much but they were not just ‘badge engineers’ aff ect their upbringing, and if anything – the company had substantial factory it sparked a desire to work hard and premises in London, where their most improve their lot. Young Otto spent some 100 with Otto continuing to work at the bank, but he rapidly discovered that his new company required considerably more attention than he’d initially imagined. He resigned from the bank and became a full-time salesman of decorative types and fancy borders. In the late nineteenth century London had many hundreds of small printing businesses, as well as the larger houses, and Otto Soldan travelled the length and breadth of the British Isles selling type and printing sundries. The business swiftly expanded, and before long he was also supplying ‘Boston’ stapling Soldans Pre-WW1 Catalogues machines, ‘Liberty’ platens from the time working in a small private bank in USA and the successful ‘Conqueror’ Frankfurt but, like many other ambitious platen from his native Germany. German men, moved to London in the Catalogues were produced on a regular 1880s to seek his fortune. He found basis (St Bride Library holds a great himself a job with a small merchant bank many editions) and a network of sales in the capital. representatives was slowly set up. One In the late 19th century there was a of the most successful ventures was large German YMCA in Finsbury Square, the importation of ‘Lightning’ proof which Otto Soldan joined. It was there that he met his future wife, a member of a German choir that rehearsed on the premises. They were soon married and sought somewhere to live, but extra money was needed to give them a better start in life. A fellow YMCA member, a Mr Schilling, wanted to dispose of his small business importing decorative printing types and fancy borders. Soldan scraped together the money to buy the fi rm and in 1896 Soldan & Company was founded. This acquisition was originally intended as nothing more than a sideline, Soldans Cartoon 101 | The Story of Soldans | | Continued | presses from Germany. Three styles constantly upgraded and redesigned its were off ered, marketed as Type A, B products, and a new fi xed-bed, power- and C. A wide range of bed sizes was operated machine was launched in 1948, available in each style and some could remaining in production until the demise be specially adapted during production of the company in 1968. to produce fl ongs for stereotyping. They In 1910 Soldans seized the opportunity were extremely versatile machines and to expand, thanks to the increasing use an important source of revenue. Sizes of machines such as the Monotype and ranged from Demy to Quad Crown and Linotype. Both were costly, and largely a unique feature (for those days) was the beyond the pockets of smaller trade adjustable bed, mounted on a series of printers. Otto Soldan struck an exclusive deal to import the Typograph machine, manufactured in Berlin. It was simple in operation, cast excellent slugs, and was substantially cheaper than the Monotype or Linotype. The disadvantage was its slower speed, but this was not an issue with small provincial printers, whose newspapers were more often weekly than daily. Soldan needed extra capital to fund the importation of the Typograph, but British banks would not lend him the money. The capital was eventually provided by a German family member, who joined him in partnership in London. This essential German fi nance would soon contribute to the downfall of the business. A separate offi ce and showroom was set up for the wedges and operated by a small hand- Typograph and it was launched in the wheel with a setting dial. The popularity UK in 1910 with full engineering support of the press was so great that imports and back-up. Further lines were added, were largely abandoned and production including a revolutionary sheet-feeder started in London, with batches of 50 (by Kleim & Ungerer of Leipzig) and presses produced at a time. Between another model known as the ‘Slogger’. 1900 and 1914 several hundred of these Business boomed with Soldans acting as were sold to printers in the UK. By the agent for Vomag, a German manufacturer outbreak of war it had simply become of photogravure equipment. Larger known as the Soldans press, on the basis premises were acquired at 8 Baldwins of its unique mechanism. The company Gardens (off Grays Inn Road), and in 102 1912 a large glass room was constructed full, after the most successful Printing to showcase the ‘Palatia’ photogravure Machinery Exhibition in the company’s press. The mechanism was similar to history. Sadly, none of the orders received an old-fashioned stone-litho press, but were ever fi lled due to the outbreak of produced around 400 sheets an hour war. Despite the fact that the founder had from an engraved copper plate. One become a naturalised British subject, and of the fi rst buyers was Blades, East & all of the family were London born and Blades, who used the press for cheque bred, the company was partly fi nanced by printing. a relative who was a German citizen (the Despite the runaway success of the source of the funding for the Typograph machinery division, Soldans still excelled imports) and therefore came under the in their range of Continental types, acting Enemy Aliens Act. The Act gave the as agents for many of the top German British Government sweeping powers, foundries, negotiating exclusive import and Germans living in the UK could be deals with Bauer, Klingspor, Ludwig & sent to internment camps for their own Mayer and Krebs – and also American safety. After the ‘Lusitania Riots’ in May Type Founders. The company off ered the 1915 over 32,000 innocent German best range of imported faces in Britain. men were held in British camps. As a Many names were changed, so ‘Tiemann naturalised citizen Otto Soldans escaped Medieval’ became ‘Wren’ and ‘Koch’ was internment, and for a while he was able to renamed ‘Oxford’ for British customers. import Typograph matrices under licence Soldans established a solid reputation via Holland. Trading became extremely for introducing the work of outstanding diffi cult and in 1917 permission was Continental artists and designers to sought by Soldan to continue his business British printers. Their range of faces as a sole trader. Otto Soldan attended a rivalled that of Stephenson Blake, and hearing at the House of Commons where provided a greater choice of decorative permission was formally refused and his display designs. business was compulsorily liquidated. By 1914 Otto Soldan’s order book was Soldans & Company was no more. 103 | The Story of Soldans | | Continued |

Bill Soldan, Otto’s son, left school in Fleet Street), the home of the London 1914 and joined the family fi rm, unaware School of Photoengraving, but he joined that the business would soon be shut the army as soon as he was old enough. down. He spent three years learning By the time he was demobbed in 1918, his the commercial side of the operation, family fi rm had ceased to exist, shut down together with gaining technical skills. He by the British Government. worked alongside a skilled compositor By 1918, Bill’s father no longer who produced the display material had suffi cient capital to restart the business and his son was too inexperienced to relaunch the company alone, so they took a succession of routine jobs with printing supply fi rms, mainly dealing with imports. In 1924, following a succession of unsatisfactory positions, Bill Soldan and his father took the decision to start up the old family fi rm again with the aid of just one member of staff – a fi tter/ engineer who was a jack-of-all- trades. Soldans Limited was formed in 1924 and the company was slowly rebuilt. Attempts to obtain agencies for pre-war popular German products failed, as most companies had established new distributors. Their only success was with the German makers of the ‘Lightning’ proof press, who were pleased to be doing business with the family again. Most of the German type-foundries were also happy to co-operate. The market for regular founders type had largely disappeared, thanks to the popularity of Monotype and printed on the ‘Liberty’ platens. The Linotype, but a niche market was the compositor’s name was John Bull and supply of unusual display faces for he was a pacifi st. Bill Soldan agreed with advertising, and Soldans targeted that his principles until the sinking of the very successfully. Business picked up Lusitania in 1915. Bill’s technical training after Otto Soldan provided letters of also involved courses at ‘Bolt Court’ (off introduction to his old friend Richard 104 ‘R. B.’ Fishenden, who wished to visit perfectly placed for expansion, with the main German type-foundries. In strong European links. Intertype had a exchange, Fishenden provided expert large European sales force, with factory advice on faces which might sell well in facilities in Slough, so although they the UK. Erbar, Kabel and Futura were would benefi t from Soldans’ contacts, introduced to Britain thanks to Fishenden they had no requirement for the sales and Soldans. Although there were other force. On the 1st of July 1968, Soldans UK importers of Continental types, such was absorbed by Harris-Intertype, the as Frederick Wesselheoft and McCoy’s, workforce made redundant and the Soldans persuaded their German old company name quickly phased out. suppliers to cast type on UK standard Soldans Limited was fi nally removed bodies (rather than Didot) and largely from the registers at Companies House in dominated the British market. August 1976 and offi cially ceased to exist, The new Soldans company continued to although it had not traded for eight years. grow and a distribution deal for the ‘Beka’ Nothing now remains of Soldans. Three process, a deep-etch system for printing large pamphlet boxes of promotional plates, boosted profi ts in the early years material are held at St Bride Library of the fi rm’s revival. Customers included – by coincidence the same quantity Alf Cooke of Leeds, one of the country’s as Stephenson Blake, although the top colour printers, which had carried a latter has a much greater presence in Royal Warrant since the reign of Victoria. terms of bound specimen books. These Otto Soldans died in 1943, leaving behind typeface leafl ets and a small collection a company which thrived in the post-war of machinery catalogues are the only years, but fancy type sales declined in the physical evidence of the company’s 1950s and were badly aff ected by Letraset former existence. Soldans, once an – the ‘new kid on the block’ in the 1960s. important name in the history of British Most of the profi ts came from machinery letterpress, is now no more than a distant sales after World War II, and in the 1960s memory. Soldans became distributors for the fast-running, Miller two-revolution American presses and through their association with the Pittsburgh fi rm stronger links with Vandercook were forged in Chicago. Soldans had been distributing Vandercook products from 1955. In 1967 Soldans were approached by representatives of the Harris- Intertype Corporation, which was looking to expand its European operations. The British company was 105 | The Pompallier Printery, New Zealand || Vicki Barton (10519) |

n the North Island of New group known as the Marist Brothers Zealand, in the town of Russell, from France, wishing to advance Ostands a building with a unique Catholicism. They began to build their place in the history of printing, as well mission compound and ordered a as in the history of this nation. printing press from France. This press, from the picture seemingly similar to a Stanhope, was constructed in 1840 by the fi rm of Gaveaux, and transported across the ocean in the barque ‘Earl of Durham’. The printery (their word) opened in 1842 and the press can still be seen there today, housed in what is now recognised as the oldest industrial building in the country. The Marian Brothers, led by Bishop Pompallier (after whom the building is named), set to work producing Catholic literature in the language of Russell was once known as the Maoris. By 1850 they had produced Kororareka and was the fi rst permanent 50,000 books. In this year, the mission settlement in New Zealand. Christian missionaries arrived in the early 19th century with the aim of converting the Maori population to their religion. Methodists and Anglicans were fi rst in the fi eld, but they were followed in 1839 by a 106 established new bases in Wellington present the building as it would have and Auckland, and the press passed been at the time of the Brothers’ work. into the possession of the Waikato Printing is demonstrated, as well as Maori. It was used in the late 19th displays at the historic tanning and century to produce a Maori newspaper, bookbinding works. In addition to the Te Paki o Matariki, was in regular use original Gaveaux press, there is also until 1933, and remained in the care a replica wooden press. The buildings of the Maori people until 1967, when it are surrounded by lovely gardens and was returned to Russell. are rightly considered an attractive The printery underwent careful destination for visitors in this historic restoration in the early 1990s to area of the North Island.

| Baby Adana | | Ron Watson (6955) |

ou never know what is round tool. The area for the type measures the corner when your interest 2.5 inches x 3 inches and a note on Yis printing. the box states that a larger version A few months ago a neighbour was available – 8 x 5 in size. gave a carrier bag to Jean and said she might be interested in the contents. Well, it turned out to be an Adana Baby printing machine. The roller was in a sorry state, but the machine did seem to work. It was decided to send the roller for recovering and clean the machine in the meantime. The new roller duly arrived and without further delay Jean assembled the machine with a small block, which had also been made a few days previously. Using a grey ink, so that it showed up against the black ink plate, a small card was positioned and the machine operated; and it produced a very good image. There is some slack in the roller attachment, but what can you expect from a machine which was made in 1931? Roy Caslon has been able to provide some information, but the complete records are not available. It is possible these machines were used during the war as a propaganda 107 | Machines in My Life | | Jillian Atkins (7184) |

This short article was written in (probably) about 1962, by Robert Atkins, who was a member before he died recently. He joined ISPA in 1963, becoming member no. 2173.

y fi rst contact with printing through the sheet-conveying arm striking machines was way back in him, and rendering him out of action for M1946, when I started my several days. The young journeyman with apprenticeship one fi ne May morning. whom I fi rst worked had the fi ngers of his Awaiting the arrival of the foreman hand crushed and distorted when trying to (who was in his seventies) I viewed steady a few remaining sheets of paper in the intricacies of a D/Crown Standard the feeder, by the action of the sucker and Wharfedale, equipped with a Universal pile-raise detector arm. Feeder, with some delight and dilemma. After a few weeks of running on various However, I was soon weeded away jobs on the Heidelberg platen and Meteor, from this captivating machine to the so enabling me to get used to the various guardianship of a young journeyman activities of machine, feeder, delivery, who was operating a ‘Meteor’ – a small handling of printed sheets, fanning out automatic Wharfedale – and a Heidelberg of paper to be printed, conveying formes, platen. Here I was to learn the fi rst steps learning the trade generally, I was in printing, and experience that side of transferred to an Arab platen. The platen learning which is possible by participation was situated between two old hand-fed and experiment. Wharfedales and all three machines One lesson that I learned at that time, obtained their power from an overhead which has remained with me, is the pulley shaft. The shaft had at one time possibility of personal injury when more served a guillotine and still ran several than one person is attending to a machine. belts through the ceiling to serve ruling This is particularly so with a Heidelberg machines in the bindery overhead. Here platen. The present-day machines are on the Arab I was to commence putting so fi tted that it is impossible to start the jobs on the machine from scratch, obtain machine when the eye-level guard-plate the lay, set the friskets, make-ready and is lifted to a vertical position. The older learn the art of feeding a platen. Often machines could be started with the guard- there was a girl available to do this, but plate raised or lowered, and if the forme I was given instruction in feeding the was being observed or cleaned at the time machine with paper and card all the same. the situation was far from amusing. The Back in those days of 1946 there were accident proneness by an operator to a shortages of all sorts. There was paper Heidelberg can be high. There is nothing rationing, and the paper that was available to prevent an article or limb from being was not always of the best. The purchase crushed by the platen when the machine tax and luxury tax that prevailed upon is in operation. A high belt-guard helps. printed material was notoriously high. Possibly the best arrangement is for the There were fuel cuts, when without fl y-wheel side of the machine to be against warning everything would come to a stop, a wall, so making it impossible for the or we would be instructed not to run the machine to be approached from that side. machines and so would mope around I have known the owner of a one-man wondering just what to do. The machines business have a nasty accident to his face that existed after the bombing were worn 108 out and had not been serviced for years. gratuities in the enterprise. Not one of The cost of second-hand machinery them had had any previous experience in was sky-high and had a ready market. the printing trade so the mistakes were There was a tobacco shortage also, which all the more obvious. From somewhere involved my purchasing some for the they had secured a very old Wharfedale, works in daily bulk orders from a nearby double crown size I believe, for £100. shop. However, we pulled through, things In their estimate it was a ‘fi ne machine’. started to improve, new buildings started Actually it was so old that the inking to rise, new machinery was promised to rollers had runners on the ends and occupy the new building. But I was not to obtained their motive power from contact see this millennium – following several with the machine bed – and I suspect from events I was discharged. the forme as well. The hand-fed platen Scouring the streets looking for a was treadled, sheets being fed in with printing shop which would engage my services was not a pleasant experience. Looking back now, after some sixteen years, I can remember the personal despair that was mine but also the treatment received from others was mixed indeed. One fi rm would appear not to have been ruffl ed by the war and was doing very nicely, thank you. Another – I was going to large fi rms and down to one-man enterprises the left hand and removed by the right! – was found to be struggling with some The Wharfedale was also treadled when clapped-out machines – I actually opened it was not receiving its electricity via the the door of a shop premises where the electric light fl ex! I left them to their fate, erection of a Wharfedale was in progress still believing that I was employed by the by the owner. printers who at that time produced the I took an afternoon off to visit some monthly magazine of the BMFPA – an out- friends of the family who were trying to of-work printer, though but an apprentice, make a go of print – having sunk their still has his pride! 109 | Small Faces Exhibition (part 2) | | Pat Swadling (10453) |

– an invitation to the special opening event by the Mayor of Southampton and the Director he story so far: our local newspaper, of the School of Art and Design and Southern Evening Echo (ring any Fashion. It’s not often I receive an offi cial Tbells?) asked for entries for the invitation to anything, so the date was People’s Postcard Portrait Exhibition put in the diary and off we went to the called Small Faces, to be held at grand opening evening. Southampton’s Showcase Gallery to We and a few other people arrived celebrate its fi fth anniversary, so I sent early and therefore had a chance to look in a letterpress printed entry. The Gallery round the exhibits before everyone else arrived, and what a sight greeted us! Board after board of postcard-sized pictures – it took about twenty minutes to discover my entry. Everyone had the same problem, though, as there didn’t seem to be any particular layout scheme, and none of the pictures were named. It must have become even more diffi cult to fi nd your entry as more people arrived and stood is an impressive contemporary art space admiring the pictures, but not moving on situated in the heart of Southampton’s to the next board very quickly. city centre and is part of Southampton There were only two speeches, one by Solent University. the Director of the School of Art and A couple of weeks before the start of the other by the Mayor of Southampton the exhibition a short item in the Echo (looking rather splendid in her red robes) said the Small Faces organisers were who offi cially opened the exhibition. amazed at the public’s response, with I’m not sure if my postcard was the 7,000 postcards being received from all only letterpress entry, but I did spot age groups, including local and national several very good linocut prints. Indeed, artists, schools and community groups: the sheer variety of ideas and artistry however, they were going to use every was really impressive and put my effort submission (something I hadn’t realised into the shade, but at least I had faced was going to happen). the challenge and waved the letterpress With this number of entries, I was printing fl ag. rather surprised to receive an invitation 110 | The Print Show 2017 | | Ron Watson (6955) |

ollowing on from the two previous methods of producing the printed print shows held at the NEC in material will become clearer over the FBirmingham, The Print Show will next few months or years. be moving to The International Centre in The show has some attractions which Telford from Wednesday 11th until Friday encourage pre-registration, namely the 13th October this year. This venue is just chance to win some pieces of equipment northwest of Birmingham. to the value of £2,300 for a wide format There are some compelling aspects printer out of a total of £8,000 on each of this event that should encourage BPS of the three days the show takes place. members to attend and see what is There is also a free lunch for those who taking place within the industry, such as pre-register, along with free car parking, the rise of the inkjet printers, which seem unlike the NEC where the parking likely to be the dominant force alongside charges cost the same as a light lunch. litho. In fact, all litho manufacturers are The information coming from the producing machines which incorporate organisers indicates that several inkjet technology on their presses. companies are taking larger stands this Exactly how they use these differing year, so it should be well worth a visit.

| Mystery press | | The Editor |

his photograph has been sent to me as an ‘unidentifi ed object’. If anyone can identify this press, or has any further information about it, please send it to the TEditor so that the knowledge can be shared within these pages.

111 | Aldus Manutius | | Roderic Findlay (10458) |

ldus Manutius was born around under the direction of Stanley Morison in 1449-1450. He lived in Venice from 1929. Bembo was inspired by a type used A1490 onwards and, with the help by Aldus in 1495 in an edition of Cardinal of a group of compositors and classical Bembo’s de Aetna, and it became one of scholars, he became the foremost printer the most popular faces of the twentieth in Europe. He printed editions of Latin century for both book and display work. and Greek texts as well as inexpensive Bembo italic was developed from a type pocket-size books. Two very fi ne typefaces made by Giovanni Tagliente in 1524. were made in the twentieth century from In both faces there is more contrast the types used by Aldus. between thick and thin strokes than in The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili by the earlier Venetian types; the capital M Francesco Colonna has splayed sides was printed in 1499, and the W is two Vs using type cut by overlapping. In the Francesco Griff o 1960s the Chiswick of Bologna. This Press described facsimile, called Bembo in their Poliphilus, was issued handbook, Keyboard by the Monotype Typefaces, thus: Corporation in 1923. “Monotype Bembo It was a considerable is based on the engineering triumph type used by Aldus to reproduce a Manutius for the fi fteenth century printing of Cardinal typeface on the Bembo’s De Aetna Monotype, but some in 1495. This was experts, such as the prototype for all Stanley Morison, subsequent Italian, doubted the wisdom French, Dutch and of producing such English typefaces an exact copy. in the authentic Nevertheless, ‘old face’ tradition, Poliphilus is a and its Monotype successful book revival has become face. Its very Aldus Manutius the standard ‘old irregularity makes face’ and the most it pleasant and restful to read, and it is extensively used book face of our time. a refreshing antidote to the somewhat Bembo has character without obtrusive clinical computer-set typefaces that are so individuality, a true sense of tradition common today. The italic for Poliphilus is without a trace of archaic fl oweriness, Blado, designed by Ludovico degli Arrighi and is one of the most versatile and and used by Antonio Blado in 1539. adaptable text faces available for keyboard Bembo is the more widely used of the composition today. The accompanying two typefaces inspired by Aldus. It was italic is a true chancery letter of great issued by the Monotype Corporation delicacy and charm.” 112 Diary of Events

Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th May Wednesday 21st June The London Original Print Fair Dorset Branch Royal Academy of Arts, London W1J 0BD. Meeting at Whitcombe Stables, Dorchester.

Monday 8th May Sunday 9th July Maidenhead Branch Maidenhead Branch Meeting at Anke Ueberberg’s, Reading. Dorothy Sydenham’s Barbeque, Thame.

Tuesday 9th May Tuesday 11th July Surrey & Sussex Branch Surrey & Sussex Branch A London Walk with Peter Scarratt. Meeting at Libby & Chris’s, Merstham.

Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th May Saturday 15th July Artist’s Book Market Essex Branch Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Visit to the Hedgehog Press, Adanaland. Gateshead Wednesday 19th July Sunday 14th May Dorset Branch Essex Branch Roadshow Meeting at Whitcombe Stables, Dorchester. Langford Museum of Power, Maldon. Saturday 19th August Sunday 14th May Essex Branch Chipping Campden Wayzgoose Visit to the Haven Press, Holland-on-Sea. Chipping Campden. Wednesday 23rd August Sunday 21st May Dorset Branch St. Bride Foundation Wayzgoose Meeting at Whitcombe Stables, Dorchester. Bride Lane,Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8EQ. Saturday 2nd September Wednesday 31st May Prestival Dorset Branch The Whittington Press, nr Cheltenham, Meeting at Whitcombe Stables, Dorchester. Gloucestershire, GH54 4HF

Saturday 10th June Sunday 3rd September Maidenhead Branch Essex Branch Roadshow Meeting at Paul Hatcher’s, Reading. Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, Maldon.

Saturday 10th June Tuesday 12th September Surrey & Sussex Branch Surrey & Sussex Branch Meeting at Adrian Towler’s, Shoreham. Meeting at Mark Mitchell’s Dorking.

Branch meetings are open to all Society members. Anyone who plans to attend a meeting who is not a member of the Branch concerned should check with the Branch Secretary in case details have changed.

113 Branch Secretaries MEMBERSHIP NEWS & UPDATES Dorset Win Armand Smith 01258 830628 NEW MEMBERS: [email protected] 10851 Mrs Gemma Harris Essex 39 Oxford Road, Banbury, OX16 9AH Chris. Brinson [email protected] 01255 813630 10852 Mr Jeremy Winkworth [email protected] 10 Kerrside, York, YO30 5FL [email protected] Lincolnshire & District 10853 Mr Russell Smith Michael Edwards 01733 562867 26 Long Mynd Avenue, Up Hatherley, [email protected] Cheltenham, GL51 3QN [email protected] London Matt McKenzie DONATIONS: 07836 785505 3712 Mrs Jean Watson [email protected] 6838 Mrs Dorothy Sydenham 9270 Mr John Hardisty Maidenhead 9883 Mr John Camish Paul Hatcher 10620 Mr Malcolm Hull 01189 666124 10738 Mr Arsi Saukkola [email protected]

INTERNET NEWS: Overseas Members may view and download further Kevin Thorp 00 353 1 8438346 interesting content on our website by [email protected] registering at www.bpsnet.org.uk. Registration provides access to the Scotland ‘Members Only Area’ which is available to John Easson all current members. 01828 628001 [email protected]

ALL MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Shropshire currently £27 for UK, £42 for Overseas, Peter Criddle 01743 350208 or £27 Overseas Online only, [email protected] and notifi cations of change of any personal or contact details should be South Wales sent to the Membership Secretary: Dominic Hartley 07970 722029 MARGARET ROOKES, 57 CRAISTON WAY, [email protected] GREAT BADDOW, CHELMSFORD, CM2 8ED Surrey & Sussex Please make any cheques payable to the Libby Green ‘British Printing Society’. 01737 644145 [email protected]

114 Branch Reports

Dorset Branch ‘type size’ and this had to be established by the layout touching all February Meeting four sides. Frank H Young discovered that a art of our meeting was taken more interesting, less monotonous up with a discussion on various and more meaningful arrangement Pitems for the 2018 Bournemouth of the message is acquired by Convention. establishing the extreme top, bottom The rest of the meeting was taken and sides of the space only once. up with a talk and demonstration by After the four sides of the space are George on the ‘use of white space’ in established and the publisher’s rules design. in this respect are met and by keeping He told us about the Four-point all other elements narrower than the principle and the following is quoted greatest width and shallower than the from his notes written in 1960 for greatest depth the element of white his City and Guilds Full Technological space is introduced. Certifi cate in Typographic Design, and Frank H Young believed that his revised for our meeting. ‘Four Point Principle’ produced better “This principle was developed design, a more pleasing and effective by Frank H Young, Director of the layout leading to possible greater American Academy of Art in 1946. He response to the message contained in introduced space into adverts, which the ‘type area’. traditionally fi lled the space allocated. The application of the ‘Four point In order to standardize and secure Principle’ is also valuable in other uniformity they introduced a rule that forms of printing with the possible all advertisements must touch top, exception of classical book margins. bottom and both sides of the advert However in America in the late area, whether pages, half-pages, 1940s this system, when applied to quarter pages, or other sub divisions. advertisements appearing in a mass The value of this rule to the designer of other messages on a page, was of advertisements was that once thought to have achieved a better the four sides had been established layout by introducing the valuable they could do anything they wished element of white space”. with the composition. Provided George then gave us an exercise to that the area of the advertisement open at home and experiment with was completely fi lled there was no various elements to create a page. possibility that the printer would place These will be discussed at the next the advertisement too high, too low, meeting. or to one side of the area allocated to The value of these talks is it gives it. us all an opportunity to evaluate our The space that an advertisement design skills and hopefully produce occupied was called, in America, more interesting work. the ‘type size’ of the display. Each publication had its own individual Win Armand Smith (10716) 115 | Branch Reports | | Continued |

Surrey & Sussex of interest to printers and railway enthusiasts alike, and could have Branch gone on considerably longer than the allotted hour. Print ‘n’ Paper Open Day The event was characterised by the usual enthusiasm for fi nding n Saturday 25th March Surrey bargains, meeting friends old and & Sussex Branch opened the new and enjoying printing chat. Odoors of Merstham Village The quote of the day came from a Hall to welcome other BPS friends non-member who had come from and members of the public, some Kent especially to hear the talk, who of whom were local but others gazed down the hall at the stalls, the from much further afi eld, to our displays of printing and the groups Print ’n’ Paper event. The hall was engaged in conversation, and said fi lled with tables of goods to buy, “This is seventh heaven!” demonstrations of bookbinding and lino-cutting to watch, tempting raffl e Libby Green (10855) prizes and appetising refreshments. The highlight of the day was a talk by Mark Ovenden entitled Johnston & Gill – very British Types, which was

116 Wanted - a new Editor for Small Printer

Small Printer is the lifeblood of the Society, which is unable to function without a magazine. The current Editor, Chris Green, agreed to take on the post for two years which comes to an end following the December 2017 edition. Are you interested in becoming our Editor? If you are able to give some of your valuable time to assist the Society to continue functioning, please read on to see what the job entails. Basically the Editor solicits articles from Members and others, proof reads these and then sends them, as they become available, to the Small Printer Designer who assembles the artwork and liaises with the printer. You do not have to be conversant with page makeup software. You will need to be profi cient with word processing software and have the ability to transfer fi les by electronic means. If you have read this far and are still interested in taking on the post of Editor please contact the Society Secretary, Peter Salisbury, for a full job description, or our current editor, Chris Green, for further information. Contact details are on the inside front cover of this magazine.

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• Various Cases of Type (Mainly Stephenson Blake) • Type Cases & Frames Etc

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118 N T I N N T I N I G I G R R P ‡ P ‡

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Support your Society and purchase from an increasing selection of items available at a very reasonable cost Polo Shirts in Black with Gold Logo (Small, Medium, Large, XLarge or XX Large) £15 plus £3 UK carriage Printers Aprons in Black with Gold Logo £ 14 plus £3 UK carriage Cuffl inks £3.50 per pair plus £1 UK carriage Badges £1 each plus 75p UK carriage Send order or inquiry to your Sales Secretary (Contact details on inner front page of this issue of Small Printer) Do you have ideas for further items that might be of interest in order to advertise and generate membership of your Branch? Umbrellas, Caps, Sweatshirts, Mugs, Mousemats? Ask and Terry will investigate availability/cost

Small Printer Advertising Rates

Line adverts (text only) per month Members Only Free (up to 50 words) then 10p per word Display advertisements 1/4 page per month £7.00 Display advertisements 1/2 page per month £15.00 Display advertisements Full page per month £25.00 Advertisement as a Printed Insert (A5) £25.00 Advertisement as a Printed Insert (A4 folded to A5) £30.00

The Editor and Advertising Manager reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Although every eff ort will be made to publish an advertisement in a specifi ed issue if requested, this cannot be guaranteed. The same display advertisement appearing in four or more consecutive issues is subject to a 10% discount and when in seven or more consecutive issues subject to a 15% discount. Cheques payable to “British Printing Society” and material should be sent as follows or contact the Advertising Manager if you wish to pay by PayPal. Line Advertisements should be sent to the Editor by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Display Advertisements should be sent with payment to the Advertising Manager also by the 10th. Printed inserts (350) must be sent with payment to the Mailer so as to arrive by the 25th of the month.

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