Robert Moskowitz wrote: > > On 07/10/2014 12:47 PM, m.roth at 5-cent.us wrote: >> Always Learning wrote: >>> On Thu, 2014-07-10 at 10:39 -0400, m.roth at 5-cent.us wrote: >>> >>>> mark "we won't talk about the month I punch Addressograph >>>> plates...." >>> Addressograph plates? That is really ancient ! but they were >>> incredible useful in those days. >>> >> Yeah... but did you ever do it, or see it done? Forget the old manual >> Underwood, this required actual *force* hitting the keys (yes, the >> machine was electric). No speed, either - the actuator arms had to hit the >> metal. WHAM-WHAM-WHAM-WHAM > > But the Linotype melted the lead and you pressed which key you wanted > the lead to flow into. Kind of. It was cool to see that bar of lead > slowly get lowered into the melting pot and finally out the other side > came the lead on steel printing plate. Though one I saw only made rows > of text that then had to be lined up on the steel plate. I guess it was > for allowing inclusion of pictures and such. > > Ah how xerography changed things. > > And that is again the point. We do things one way because with a big > enough hammer we can get it to work. Then new ways and new goals come > along and the old stuff heads off for the big melting pot in the backyard. But with a good hammer, you can force the lead into the new plates without melting.... mark (who's taken at least part of this offlist)