Amid the latest in wide-format, inkjet, and high-speed toner printers, PacPrint visitors were intrigued and surprised by a striking display of operational historic printing machines.
The exhibit was proudly presented by volunteers from the Penrith Museum of Printing, offering a nostalgic contrast to the cutting-edge technology on show.
Among the standouts, was a working replica of a 1770 wooden “Common Press” followed by a cast iron 1843 Columbian Press which was used to print the “Carcoar Chronicle” while the same model Press used to print the weekly editions of the Sydney Morning Herald in the 1800s.
A foot treadle operated Platen Press and a hand operated desktop Platen press circa late 1800s were also demonstrated.Also featured were type cases, a Ludlow line casting machine circa 1940 and examples of composed formes of posters, press ready.
On display was a two-volume reproduction of the Gutenberg Bible as well as early editions of the Sydney Morning Herald, the Land and Bulletin Magazines as well as samples of meticulously hand engraved wooden printing blocks featuring a variety of images.
The Penrith Museum of Printing’s display at PacPrint was made possible thanks to IVE Group, which arranged the transport of the historic machines.
The museum stand generated a lot of interest and enquiries about visiting the Museum and booking group tours. The museum is in the grounds of Penrith Paceway, corner of Mulgoa Road and Ransley Street, Penrith, NSW and is open to the public every Sunday from 10am-2pm.
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