Any timeframe of when the DVD's will be out? Congrats on the first screenings.

I'm just curious...I pledged at the digital download level..when might that download become available?

I am thrilled that you are finally able to start the final editing of the film. I do have one question though, after watching your video I noticed someone in the background and to the left bent over in front of one of the display cases. He didn't move. Is the poor man alive or part of one of the displays?

I was born in 1948, and two years later I was toddling around my parents' weekly newspaper shop in New London, Minnesota. Needless to say, I was introduced to the linotype at a very early stage of life and have been captivated by it ever since. I never once tired of watching all the moving parts: the arms moving up and down, wheels spinning, the mats dropping back into the cases.
Then there was Dad's endless typing, sending line after line to the caster, checking the melting pot, fixing this, fixing that, cleaning, and on and on it went. I recall the smells of the gas burner and hot lead.
The sounds of the linotype are still with me as well: the whine of the electric motor, the clickity-clack of the mats dropping, the ka-chunk of rollers on cams, the hissing of the burner, the clunk of the elevator reaching the top of its travel, the clanking and grinding of the casting wheel, the moaning, the creaking, the continual clicking of the keyboard. It was an orchestra within itself.
My favorite part, however, was watching the mats being lifted up to the back of the machine, seeing them being pushed onto the screw conveyor, drawn along by its rotation, and then magically dropping back down into the case.
I was literally raised in that shop and never tired of watching this marvelous machine. I was truly mesmerized by it! Needless to say, I am looking forward to your final project! Thanks for helping me keep these wonderful memories alive!

Steve Richardson
Valdez, Alaska

Doug,
Great project! The most Linotypes ever at use in one place, nearly 2000, was the U. S. Government Printing Office in Washington, DC. They still have two active machines for special purposes and a score of craftspeople who once operated and maintained the machines. Bob Tapella, the Public Printer of the United States, might well be willing to help with this project. Contact his office at 202-512-1100 and ask to speak with his special assistant, Trenholm Boggs.

I spent most of my working life as a linotype operstor and would love to see the film, but when I click on one of the green buttons, nothing happens. I wish to pledge $50. Help!!!.
Norm Jackson

Anticipating the film. Good luck with the project. If you have not already got enough old Linotypers to interview, I just reconnected with my old boss who owned one and could still run it in 1980. If you need contact info let me know and I will hook you up. He is in Bowling Green, KY.

Congratulations!
Until we get the film: Type Specimen from 1905 via archive.org: http://www.archive.org/details/linotypefaces00mergrich

Vocational film from the '60's:
Part 1: http://www.archive.org/details/Typesett1960
Paft 2: http://www.archive.org/details/Typesett1960_2

I'm glad to be a part of it, I wish you all the best.

The end of 2011 cannot come quickly enough. I started with Aldus PageMaker back in the day to do layouts for the school paper and there I started my love for type, layout, and printing. I've always been amazed and intrigued to see how things were done before computers. Thanks for keeping the history alive!

Definitely make a trip out here to the International Printing Museum (http://www.printmuseum.org/). Just visited over the weekend, and loved the experience!

Doug!!!
I am so excited to see the finished project! The teasers so far have all been excellent, and I know from talking with you about the film how passionate you are about getting it done, and done right. I am proud to back you on this adventure, and I look forward to hearing about and experiencing your interesting, and educational endeavors, for years to come. WAY TO GO!!! - Peace, Cash

Hey Douglas, we're happy to see that this project is receiving healthy funding. Good work! Also, I'm excited to read that you've already interviewed Carl. That guy is a living treasure. Look us up if you head to Portland, hot type is alive and well here! The C.C. Stern Type Foundry will be hosting the 2012 American Typecasting Fellowship Conference, perhaps it can be a venue to show your film? -Brian

I used to set type on a Compugraphics machine and that feels old hat enough...I can't imagine what it would be like to use a Linotype but I think they are pretty cool! Thanks SO much for offering a DVD of the film, it's hard for me to get out and see movies especially when they just play one or two art theaters or a festival !

100% awesome. So excited for this. Geeked even.

Doug, I can't wait to see your documentary. I am the professor of Photojournalism at San Francisco State University. My father, a journalism historian, owned two linotypes. Are you aware of the story behind the space band that produces justified lines? This was one of the important inventions in the history of the machine. Today, My father's linotype is in the Baltimore museum of industry. Ken Kobre kobre@aol.com

Hey Douglas, the film looks gorgeous. What camera was it shot on?

Make sure you make it out to Wellsboro, PA to interview some of the people who worked at Linotype Mergenthaler. The local newspaper, The Wellsboro Gazette, a very small town newspaper, always seemed to have the latest Linotype machine, since the factory would give them one to try out. I saw my first machine while growing up in town and visiting the newspaper. Still remember the pot of hot lead!