[Sca-cooks] OT - early printing
Terry Decker
t.d.decker at att.net
Fri May 13 07:20:48 PDT 2011
> So, does anyone have any good recommendations on learning more about
> this? I haven't tried Wikipedia, yet. I had always thought that Gutenburg
> *did* invent moveable type, although at first I thought the type was of
> wood, and more recently since joining in the SCA, found out it was metal
> type. But apparently what I thought I knew is wrong, or at least there
> is more to the story than I realized.
>
> Thanks,
> Stefan
The Chinese invented moveable type.
Prior to Gutenberg, printers used wooden block type, each of which had to be
individual carved. Gutenberg was a goldsmith who was knowledgeable about
molding metals. He used the molding process to create individual letter
molds to mass produce standardized type. The method produces better
printing at reduced cost.
I learned all of this fifty years ago working in my Uncle's one man job
shop, so I can't give you references.
Bear
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