See Naples and Live – 7: Prints Charming

 

©Nigel Summerley

This is the phone in the workshop of Carmine Cervone in Naples... and it works.

But it's not the most interesting of his machines – at least not to a journalist who was a reporter, sub-editor and production editor going back to the days of typewriters, copy paper and hot metal.

Carmine has linotype machines. And although they look like museum pieces, they are actually there to be used for printing... posters, papers, books, whatever comes along.

"The problem with new technology," observed Carmine, "is that it can produce idiots."

I almost cried as he spoke lovingly of the joys of beautifully designed typefaces, slugs of metal, and the skill of reading type upside down and back to front – just as I had to do on my first newspaper in the Midlands and later in the final days of Fleet Street. 

Carmine is not just a tipografo but he is also a filosofo. He says that to him it is important to work no more than four hours a day: "Then I can have time just to think."

Carmine Cervone's workshop and small museum is at Strada dell'Anticaglia 10-12, Napoli; the number of that phone is 00 39 081 29 54 83.

The wonderful Carmine Cervone ©Nigel Summerley

Still in use... a linotype machine                 ©Nigel Summerley

The Last Farewell

I've now lost count of the number of farewell parties in recent weeks for people leaving The Times and The Sunday Times as a result of redundancies, voluntary or enforced. The amazing thing is that these events always seem to have a great atmosphere, with people being upbeat, positive and happy.

Journalists not only seem capable of great optimism, but they also, even now, long after the demise of Fleet Street, still have a tremendous camaraderie that is stronger than any barriers or competition between different newspapers.

In the old days, rival newspaper offices were situated side by side or just a street or two away from each other. Their journalists met and mixed in the local pubs, and created a real feeling of community. Most of that was destroyed by the moves out of Fleet Street to soulless office blocks. Farewell parties have revived that community spirit with colleagues old and new gathering to honour their friends. But what happens after the last farewell party?