On
October 29, 2008. Graphics Technology 10th and 11th grade
students had the opportunity to tour historic Mystic Seaport
in Mystic, CT. The
main objective of the tour was to visit the 1870s Mystic
Printing shop. Students were able to compare 1870s technology
to todays.
Interesting facts learned by students included
early presses with two operators ran about 230 copies an
hour, real lead was used for the “leading” or space between lines of type and “printers pie or pi” is
not a baked good but a mistake by a typesetter involving
dropping hundreds of pieces of lead type on the floor. Students
were grateful for the 1870s coal stove in the shop on a blustery
late fall day.
Students were also able to explore other aspects of New England seaport life such as rope making, ship smith work or metal working as well as retail operations. Early transportation was observed as a horse and wagon walked down the road. A couple of students even were able to try their hand a basic seamen ship by hoisting the rigging on one of the tall ships. |
