Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16

George Gibson, pioneer member Of the
firm of Gibson Bros, printers.
doing So No one ever heard him utter a pro.
fame word Or be other than the real gentleman
upon all occasions
Unfortunately, sometimes we do things that
we soon forget. but which are ever remembered
by others. It was while the writer was working
for Mr.. Joyce that an incident occurred that
he stil wildly recalls. Judd & Detweiler were
then in business the northeast corner of ID
and Eleventh streets, and Maurice Joyce just
north of the old part of The Star building, was
stereotyping or electrotypng for them the
pages for an octave book. The pages were
locked in chases, two pages each, and some OF
the forms at least were returned by one Of Mr..
Joyce's apprentices.
The writer clearly recalls that he returned
some of these forms, which were heavy, for,
after climbing Judd & Detweiler's stairway,
with chase in each hand, to the second floor
where the composing room was located and
while going down the center of the long rooms
some printer said "Oh-erl" which, of course,
the writer thought was meant for him. and
naturally he set his heavy forms down, to see
what was wanted After he did So and turned
around he found the gentleman who made the
"oh-er busily engaged in a deep conversation
with one of his fellow printers.
He saw the joke, and, best of all, it taught
him not to be too much interested in other
peoples business. Since then, when some one
has said "oh-er" ne has waited for some
mailing sign" just little more pronounced
and emphatic.
John G. JUDD and Frederick M Detweiler,
who composed this firm, were two sterling
characters OF the old school; democratic in
their habits and reliable in their dealings Mr..
Judd was one of the pioneer residents Of Mount
Pleasant, having nice house surrounded by
l.
street road little north of Columbia road, now
a thoroughly business section. Mr.. Detweiler,
who resembled "Ollie" Polkinhorn. somewhat
preferred to live down town
Before staring in business for themselves both
of these men were union printers. Judd joining
in April. 1856, and Detweiler in December, 1850.
There Is q marked change in the methods Of
printing today from those of 30 or 40 years ago.
Indeed, few newspapers are now printed from
movable type, the exception if any, being in
some of the smaller country towns. Type.
setting machines, particularly, have revolutions
lied the industry and in more than one way
have benefited the proprietor as well as the
printer.
In days gone by, it was not unusual when
type was not justified properly or the form Sc.
curely locked, for the rollers to pull the type
out OF the FORM and it was then a question of
how soon the press could be stopped as to how
great the damage would be. which sometimes
meant considerable loss in time and money
Fifty years ago. when the occasion demanded
1t, corrections were made right on the press.
Indeed, the writer has often seen this done
when the National Republican was printed at
Thirteenth street and Pennsylvania avenue
where the former Southern Railway Building
stands. Sometimes 1t was necessary to wash
the form with benzine, and in order to avoid
delay by waiting for it to dry out lighted match
was touched to it, and the press could be started
up in q few minutes thereafter To kid this
proved an interesting process, and one he rather
looked for AS printers know, this cannot be
done to the same degree with modern gasoline,
because 1t seems to contain too much oil.
A CCIDENTS often happened years ago which
resulted diSastrOusly. but which modern
equipment has greatly minimized. This re-
minds the writer of an accident he once saw
in front of the Mertz Building, at the northwest
corner of Eleventh and F streets. which had
its ludicrous as well as its dramatic side. se.-r
1t so happened that two coored men who
had been pushing cart up street, loaded
with .full-page form, newspaper size, stopped
in front Of the drug store which then occupied
this corner, 10 settle some sort of an argument. q
1t was before the days Of prohibition and 80