5 June 2013

Glastonbury Festival Seeks Intertype Operators

On-site newspapers are not unusual at events this size, but this year the Glastonbury Free Press is going to try something different - 'hot metal' letterpress printing.

They have imported a vintage Heidelberg cylinder press specially for the occasion, and have rescued a 1960 Intertype C4 linecaster to produce the type. Andy Taylor (head comp) is a Fleet Street veteran of 30 years who worked casting type on the Daily Express, but to produce this paper he's going to need some help.

Glastonbury Free Press is planning to operate the printing office on a 24-hour shift system to produce 15,000 broadsheets a day. Although there will definitely be plenty of work to put in, there will also be plenty of time off to enjoy the festival, and they are expecting their 'wild-west' styled workshop to provide the ideal place to relax as well as work. Camping will be in their private, secure enclosure.

All equipment will be visible to festival goers, so they can see and hear the vintage machinery in operation, and to fit in with Glastonbury Free Press' address in the Theatre/Circus field, they are asking everybody on the team to wear period apparel (green eye-shades, Boston clips etc.). They will also be coordinating amusing theatrical components for additional entertainment, probably centred on some dispute between management and the unions.

Ideal candidates will be fast accurate keyboard operators and know how to reset the Intertype when it goes wrong. The Intertype has been given a service, but it is over 50 years old, so the odd hiccup is to be expected here and there. There's no payment involved, but the organisation will be able to cover all reasonable expenses, and a great deal of fun is guaranteed along with a free ticket to the festival.

Glastonbury Free Press is now assembling all the equipment and beginning to set type at their workshop in Bath, before moving everything to Pilton in a couple of weeks. They would like people to get involved right away, which is why they are hoping to find people who live nearby, or have easy access to Bath.

For more information have look at
http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/areas/glastonbury-free-press/
where updates will be posted under the 'Free Press Blog' link, or ring Simon Rigby on 07580 770883 for a chat.  Email enquiries to: pinkmilkfloat (at)googlemail.com.