Newspaper printing, Fleet Street, 1986.mpg

Рет қаралды 21,348

13 жыл бұрын

DELETE ANY ADS.
In 1980 London faced monumental change. One tenth of the city, the docklands, was empty and derelict. Fleet Street, newspaper-land, was too small, union bound and technologically archaic to allow any progress. So The Daily Telegraph made a decision and became the first major company to move to Docklands. This film illustrates the start of London's transition. Also, the creation of Westferry Printers - the main printer of newspapers today. (News International had riots but Westferry did it quietly!) The movie is a bit slow by today's pace and the commentary, delivered well by Benny Green, is a bit clunky. Camera - Terry Jenkins.

Пікірлер: 40

@phyllishamilton165 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for a wonderful documentary -- here in the US, the history and transition to cold type was much the same -- I started in the hot metal, linotype days, as staff artist on a leading daily in Texas, and witnessed the initial transition process to coldtype, before going back to university for a master's in journalism. I do love the Goss press systems! Their modern capability is astonishing, but I admit I am still emotional when I see an old Heidelberg -- machine oil everywhere. My Dad was a machinist on multiples, and I virtually grew up in his shop -- so really blessed as a GIRL -- born in 1946! Huge thanks for your marvelous video!!!

@Theandyhumphreys 5 жыл бұрын

Hello Phyllis, Glad you liked the film. You my like to see the first 8 minutes of the film - an introduction to London's docklands - at the following link. Incidentally, that building and print facility has now been demolished - London constantly changes. Thank you for your interest. PS I crossed Texas once - in a VW Beetle. - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pqyBY9WVmJvYd6M.html

@airhandingunit 3 жыл бұрын

First went here with my Dad who worked for John Menzies Wholesale to pick up the Sunday Telegraph. Was amazed by the robots who moved around the print hall. Very good memories.

@londonroulette 8 ай бұрын

I remember John Menzies 👍👍

@Stingerbee64 8 жыл бұрын

i worked at westferry from 1987 to 1997 for Peter Heath electrical , i enjoyed it and have a lot of good memories. I also remember David Wiltshire.

@londonroulette 8 ай бұрын

Bloody amazing all that huge amount of machinery, I can still remember that ink smell

@derekstocker6661 4 жыл бұрын

I well remember my time working as a Circulation Department driver in the early 60s to late 80s at the Kentish Times series in Sidcup, Kent. Probably now part of south London sprall. I was fascinated by the Crabtree double ended rotary press we had there and the noise and sights and it was apparently closed soon after I was made redundant. I believe it has mostly gone now and the last time I heard the building was partly demolished and was a company involved in meat! This is a great video and thanks for sharing all these memories of the old "hot lead" newspaper printing.

@Theandyhumphreys 4 жыл бұрын

Hello Derek. All part of the digital revolution - for good or bad. Interestingly, West Ferry Printers, the modern building we filmed being built and commissioned, is also now gone. The site is flattened awaiting the implant of many tower blocks. See West Ferry Print Works. Glad you liked the video and thanks for your interest.

@alanwatts2076 8 ай бұрын

Something about looking into the recent past is calming. Also, it's interesting that the Telegraph invested in "the most advanced printing plant" in 1982, just 15 years before the internet became widely available. I wonder what the space is used for now?

@Theandyhumphreys 8 ай бұрын

Hello Alan, Thanks for that. The point at the start was that there was lots of empty space in Docklands for the industry and its many trucks. Then housing sprang up and a big school by the front gate. It became untenable. Now, it is demolished by Richard Desmond - porn Czar - who was granted panning permission for housing. But then with the help of Robert Jenrick MP and Boris J , planned to make the development much larger without permission. It's been empty now for ???? dunno 1- -15 years. The usual mess.

@londonroulette 8 ай бұрын

Amazing when you look at technology now. I was luckily enough to go into the Evening Standards pressing plant (my beautiful mum worked there), she was a classified Ad Manager and was very popular there, all the guys loved her or knew her. She knew JAK the Evening Standard cartoonist, I met him, I was in my early teens visiting the place many times (Shoe Lane entrance), great memories & I still have some things from there

@Theandyhumphreys 8 ай бұрын

Hello, Glad this brought back happy memories. And now Westferry is no more. Thanks for your interest.

@jayblake7005 4 жыл бұрын

I worked on that Blue line Goss HT60 FOR 10 years Balloon formers Bay windows 72 pp and massive multiple web breaks A lovely built press

@Michael.H456 4 жыл бұрын

Hello, Glad you enjoyed the memory. Thanks for your interest.

@Sixtiesdude1 12 жыл бұрын

I started at The Daily Telegraph Art Room in 1985 and remember the move from Hot Metal to Pasteup in early 1986. The chap in waistcoat and glasses at 0.02 is Chris Bramwell and the gent at 0.08 with his head down is Sub Editor Pat Prentice who can still be found at The Times,presumably still cutting long stories short. The Art Room was the last editorial department to leave 135 Fleet Street on August 14th 1986 before moving to South Quay in Docklands. All great fun whilst it lasted!

@rjjcms1 2 жыл бұрын

Interesting seeing this video clip. I'd always thought that the Sun's move to Wapping in January 1986 started the exodus from the traditional Fleet Street huddle,but here's the Telegraph already planning such a move four years earlier.

@Theandyhumphreys 12 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment. David Wiltshire commissioned the film - smart man and realised a small piece of history should be recorded.

@peterharte681 Жыл бұрын

Of course David Whiltshire commissioned the film! The man who would star & sell Whisky to the Japanese market, capable of many things, bravo!

@brodison123 12 жыл бұрын

i ran those presses at westferry from 1994 till jan 2010.

@jayblake7005 4 жыл бұрын

I ran the Blue line

@rturner4749 4 жыл бұрын

Love your film brings back many nice memories in newspaper printing was there in the hot metal time to offset presses. i was a Minder i also worked for Goss Preston and was at west ferry installing some of the new presses with our crew from Preston headed by Tommy Mayor

@Theandyhumphreys 4 жыл бұрын

Hello, Glad you liked the clip of the film. Interestingly, my brother - semi-retired now - worked at Tower Hamlets planning opposing the plans for the West Ferry Print Works - now gone - by Richard Desmond. Four huge residential tower blocks - ideal for rich Arabs and Chinese. The battle goes on. Did you see the other clips on Docklands? Search London Docklands - there are 3 and also the full film posted by ?? Thanks for your interest.

@bruceanderton1518 2 жыл бұрын

And the great move to Docklands counted for little in the end, despite all the expense involved...

@Theandyhumphreys 2 жыл бұрын

Many industries moved to Docklands in the late 70s, 80s and 90s as it was vacant, derelict and close to central London. It was a smart move for many - eg banking in Canary Wharf - but not for others. To say it "counted for little" is wrong. Docklands is now thriving - east of Tower Bridge to the Woolwich Barrier and further it is a huge rejuvenated sector of London. But, it ain't finished yet.

@MrLeeflemwell 8 жыл бұрын

I worked at Westferry from 1997 to 2006 and fucking hated it. Loved the guys I worked with,hated the firm.

@headleycaryer3795 2 жыл бұрын

Is it true that the Telegraph had a brand new plant sitting idle for some ten years or more because the unions wouldn't allow it to be used?

@Theandyhumphreys 2 жыл бұрын

I don't think that is true. You may be thinking of the Wapping strike - 1986-7 when Rupert Murdoch titles Sunday Times etc. (News International) were under threat by union action. It was a nasty event and did much to change trade unionism in the UK. See this wikipedia link if you want to read further. Thanks for your interest. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wapping_dispute

@headleycaryer3795 2 жыл бұрын

Hello Andy, I worked in Fetter Lane in the late 60s and up until 1973. On a Thursday night around 11 pm we used to walk down to Shoe Lane for a bowl of soup or coffee. On the way we passed a building which although, it had just a few internal lights on, you could see through the windows Crabtree type machines standing idle. I told by lads I worked with this was new machinery owned by The Telegraph but never used.

@Theandyhumphreys 2 жыл бұрын

@@headleycaryer3795 Hello Headley. I know nothing about that. I made the film in the mid-1980s and apart from filming again at Westferry Printers in the mid 90s for the LDDC played no other part. I am sure you know that Westferry Printers has also closed and the building demolished. you could contact the Telegraph. It is now close to Victoria Station. Best wishes.

@headleycaryer3795 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Andy. I think it is probably true knowing how strong the unions were then. At the time I understand the Telegraph was using the oldest equipment in Fleet Street. Many thanks for your replies.@@Theandyhumphreys

@Chad-Giga. 3 ай бұрын

It's incredible they were even able to make a profit on newspapers, having to do this everyday. Seems like a machine of a mind control campaign, rather than a viable profit making machine.

@Theandyhumphreys 3 ай бұрын

Yes, that's the point of the title - to produce something as complex and far reaching as a newspaper everyday - was a "Miracle"! Thanks for your interest.

@bbodinefan11 4 жыл бұрын

That guy was smoking in the pressroom. That's pretty brave.

@Theandyhumphreys 4 жыл бұрын

I remember that there was a print union strike (normal) and some of the printers were non-union - Telegraph didn't care about unions - and he may have been one of those. Thanks for you interest.

@petermitchell2448 3 жыл бұрын

TBH back in the 70's and 80's smoking was not stopped within the press hall or reel room, smokers used to have there own little tins to flick the ash and stub out when finished, I working in Manchester from '73 to '97 in the press industry.

@ericbuckle 9 жыл бұрын

3:35

@ronnieg6358 Жыл бұрын

Just cut out the music and say a few words on what the process is, if indeed you do know!

@Theandyhumphreys Жыл бұрын

Ronnie - it's a film - a combination of images and sound designed to inform, educate and entertain. As you don't like it , go to a library and tell everyone to "Schusssss....