[Information required about George Mann (again)

[Jonathan Bedford]

I'm posting this message again 'cos somehow the original got wiped off.
Anyone know how that can happen?

----- Original Message -----
From: Jonathan Bedford <Jonbe...@mospherics.freeserve.co.uk>
Newsgroups: misc.industry.printing
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 7:03 AM
Subject: Information required about George Mann

I would like any information you may have or know of somewhere / someone
that has information on George Mann and his engineering company. My
knowledge so far is this:

George Mann formed an engineering company around the 1920s in Leeds,
England. He registered a patent for what we call Offset Lithography and
produced magnificent printing presses known as "Mann Fast Three" (a single
colour press), "Mann Fast Five" (a two colour) and a "Mann Master" (I don't
know the configuration but I'm told it was BIG). I'm sure they will have
produced other presses.
The Fast Three and Fast Five were world famous presses probably throughout
the 1950's and 1960's. I'm told that the company folded in about 1963 and
possibly bought by Crabtree Vickers (another eminent Leeds press
manufacturer).

George Mann made an association with König and Bauer who made offset presses
under licence. As part of the good will that had developed between the
companies, George Mann later acted as UK agent for König and Bauer presses.
Anyway this is what I have been told. The information comes second hand to
me from a superbly produced history of König and Bauer. From the same book
comes another fascinating note that a group of engineers at König and Bauer
left to start manufacturing their own presses -- and so Heidelberg were
born. I'm including this little gem for the benefit of some contributors to
this group who were wondering who König and Bauer are. I'll say no more on
K&B save that they make a press at B1 size that outmatches the Speedmaster
and CD ranges of Heidelberg in many areas and should be seriously considered
when looking at new presses.

I've digressed somewhat but I'm trying to source more information about
George Mann and his company. If anyone can help here with any information
it would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Jonathan Bedford

_______________________________________________
Printing maillist - Prin...@printerspace.com
http://www.printerspace.com/mailman/listinfo/printing

[RVano10601]

Mr.Bedford,I can't help you with information about George Mann,but I do have an
interesting bit of information about the,"Mann Master" offset press.
My father,a pressman who worked for the Dunlap Printing co.in
Philadelphia.Pennsylvania,USA,ran aMann Master type.This was in the 50's to
early60's.They called it the,English Mann" It was a perfector,(printing both
sides of the sheet in one pass),and could print up to a 58" sheet. So it was
large. I just thought you might like to have that info.
Good luck with your search,Jack Van Osten,pressman,Houston,Texas,USA
jcvohoutex

[James Pearce]

I have been a Printers Engineer for the last forty years. During my
formative years and later I spent a lot of time repairing Fast Five's and
occasionly Fast Three's. The Fast Five was a popular two colour litho
printing machine. Very robust and well made but slow by todays standards.
The Fast Three was a single colour version. I still have a parts book and
the name badge from the last Fast Five that I worked on. Ahh happy memories.
Now I mainly work on Speedmasters Etc. I am very intrigued as to why
information about George Mann was requested. I would be happy to pass on any
other information required.
James.