Elenco Printing Press - Manual (Page 8)

6
Early Printing in Europe
Prior to the invention of the printing press, text was either handwritten or printed
from woodblocks that were hand-carved with text and then pressed to paper.
The woodblock method could only be used to print one written work and other blocks
had to be carved to create others. Johannes Gutenberg later created a movable printing
press by making individual metal letters and characters so that different printed works
could be created with the same press.
Gutenberg Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the fifteenth century. This important
machine takes its inspiration from the technology of the screw-type wine presses used in
the Rhine Valley. It was there that Johannes Gutenberg created a hand press in which ink
was rolled over the raised surfaces of moveable hand-set block letters held within a wooden
form. These letters were pressed against a sheet of paper to create a printed page. Johannes
Gutenberg is credited with printing the Gutenberg Bible, the world's first book printed
using movable type.
Gutenberg-style printing press from 1568.
Such presses could make 240 prints per hour.
Johannes Gutenberg
(1398 - February 3, 1468)