A Printing Press A c tiv ity You Can Build You Need: 0 1 carpenter's e-clamp (2. to 4->nch size) Yourself ! 2 small f/gf sticks (tongue by Nick D'Alto dePressors, Paint stirrers, What made Gutenberg's printing press such a ° r rulers) revolutionary invention? Gutenberg combined a screw- 9 double-faced operated press with moveable metal type, so he could carpet tape print fairly quickly and many times. (about 6 inches) Now you can see how this type of printing really worked. You can build a working model of an early « P'Pe cleaners press, and use it to print messages of your own. Just B Tempera paint turn the page! and Q-t,ps f scissors Directions: Building the Press Setting the Type Early printing presses used a heavy 1. To set or compose your type, insert screw called a spindle to press the type each letter you've made into your chase. against the paper. A tray, known as a The letters will stick tp the tape, just like chase, held the type, and a heavy plate, Gutenberg, you will have to set each of called a platen, was used to press down on your letters backwards and run the letters the paper. from right-to-left in order to print your message correctly! 1. To make a spindle for your printing press, use a c-clamp. Inking the Type 2. To make your chase, attach some double- Gutenberg used bags made from faced tape to a flat stick. Then, tape the lambskin to hold and spread the ink over other side of the stick to the clamp. his type. 3 . To make your platen, tape a second stick to the clamp's screw. Your printing press 1. To "ink" your typex apply paint to each is complete! letter using a Q-tip. Preparing the Type The early printers cast their type by pouring hot liquid metal into specially- designed molds. 1. To make type for your machine, cut pipe cleaners into strips about 2 or 3 inches long. 2. Bend the strips into letters so they spell out a short message— for example: P-R-l-N-T. Printing Becoming a Master Printer 1. Position a strip of paper over your type. Gutenberg spent years improving his printing press. To improve yours, prepare 2. Using the clamp, screw down the "platen" numerous copies of letters from A-Z. Now until the paper and the type you are able to print anything— even print are sQueezed together. multiple lines (by repositioning the paper) or multicolor messages (by using different color paints). To make your press sturdier, use a spring clamp as a base. I f 3. Release the screw, and your printed message is ready! Nick D'AIto, an engineer, builds replicas of historic 4. Now try rearranging the let­ machines for museums and learning centers. ters to spell different words. Like Gutenberg, you can print a variety of messages— the secret of moveable type. 21.