Wigan Album

Built by Crabtree of Leeds, they were Britain's biggest printing press manufactures, home and around the world.

Thats some machine, I think we've gone one step forward and 10 back, why is it, things were alot better then.

Well Bob, like most firms when new bosses are appointed, they like to change things their way, and don't forget greed that plays a major part. It's about how much money can we make, even though it could sacrifice the quility of the product.

Sorry but This press was a Crabtree Spearhead mk3 and it was built in Gateshead by Bren engineering which was part of Crabtrees.
Believe me it was a troublesome beast as was its larger sister press in the Chester Chronicle.
The Wigan Observer press was nicknamed "Betsy" by the crew based on bet she breaks before the runs finished.

Hi Dave, the machine at Wigan was a Crabtree spearhead mk3 10/50 web offset press, manufactured by R.W. Crabtree and sons of water lane, Leeds. The press was tested at the Gateshead Team Valley works, (as you say the Bren) which was shortly to be installed at Woods Street, in the Autumn of 1965. The Gateshead works part of the Crabtree group, manufactured metal decorating presses. I have a photo of the Chester Chronicle on test at the Gateshead works, it had a total capacity of 40 broadsheet pages, and as you say a larger Spearhead machine than the one at Wigan. I also have a photo of "Betsy" stuck on the folder. "Betsy works"-"Betsy won't". About the troublesome press...well, as I said in my caption, Web offset printing was relatively new in newspapers and were still under developments at that time, never the less, the press was proving to be an hand full. After saying that, it put Wigan on the map in the newspaper printing world, awards after awards flooded in year after year. It probably took several years for the machine to get "Bedded down". I think web breaks were a real problem.
Dave, did you work at Wigan?

Very well explained Colin, Dave William didn't answer back to you did he, I wonder why!

Hello Colin & Garry sorry for the 8year delay in my reply, I was the Press room manager at Chester Chronicle from 1967 to 1977 we worked closely together for many years with Wigan Observer on many exchanges.
I later went on to work for Howson Algraphy in Leeds the litho plate division of Vickers David Crabtree was production director there and at our annual re unions we still discuss the blood and tears we went through at Chester and Wigan. But it pioneered web offset for the industry world wide and everyone involved contributed so much to that innovation and learning.
Look back with pride.
Sorry it took so long to get back but I’ve been busy !1
PS most weeks I dream I’m still in those press rooms .