Newspaper Printing Blocks

Newspaper Printing Blocks were used back when printing wasn't computerized and typesetters did all the work.  The collection I have here are various print blocks depicting a lot of different scenes used by a newspaper in it's advertising, they came from the estate of a long time typesetter.  Click the little pictures to see it full size, and do the same on the linked words to see other views.  The Qty listed for each item are the number of that item in stock, unless otherwise noted in the description.  If the description indicates more than one available, you can change the number in the shopping cart and click on the update quantity button!  

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Note: All Print Blocks are a reverse image, I have flipped some of the images so they can be easily read.  The actual block will be the reverse image.  The blocks I have for sale are all from the estate of a long time retired typesetter.  For most economical shipping choose 1st Class, these will be sent in a small box not a padded mailer!  

Vintage Print Block Paint & Varnish Newspaper Advertisement. The ad says "Save the surface and you save all!". These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 2 3/8" X 1 1/2" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Howe Table Truck Newspaper Advertisement. Howe was founded in the 1920s by Harold Howe. Howe started out making card tables, snack tables, bedside tables, folding cribs, wooden hat racks, sewing tables and just about any furniture that folded.  The block is 2 1/4" X 3" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

 Vintage Print Block Minuteman Newspaper Advertisement. This looks like the UMASS Minuteman, I can't be sure. The Sentry Insurance Minuteman has no hat. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 1 5/16" X 3 3/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Merry Christmas Auto Parts Newspaper Advertisement. The slogan says "Any Part for Any Car..Merry Christmas". The block is 2 1/8" X 2 1/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Caricature Fisherman. I have seen this proud fisherman guy in some old newspapers, but I can't remember the context, they may have been putting him on the fishing report page, I don't know.  The block is 2" X 2 1/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Torsion Balance Co. Newspaper Advertisement. This one is for Torsions Precision scales.  The block is 1 7/8" X 1 11/16" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Chicago Skate Co. News Advertisement. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 2 5/16" X 1 5/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Mary Jane Shoe Advertisement . I have looked at some Buster Brown shoe ads trying to ID if it was made by them, but there was just too many. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 1 5/8" X 1 7/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Caricature Fisherman. I have seen this proud fisherman guy in some old newspapers, but I can't remember the context, they may have been putting him on the fishing report page, I don't know.  The block is 1 3/4" X 2 " and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Monticello Brooms Newspaper Advertisement.  The block is 1 13/16" X 1 5/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Contest Newspaper Advertisement.  The text says "For a straight ticket...mark within the circle.   The block is 1 13/16" X 1 5/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Thor Wringer Washing Machines News Advertisement. Few American innovations impact our daily lives like the 1907 invention of the Thor Clothes Washer. Widely hailed as one of the top ten inventions of the last century, Thor washers quickly became a staple in American households, thus establishing the Thor brand as a symbol of quality and innovation. Like many new products of its time, the Thor Washer made life easier by taking much of the labor out of a once arduous task.  The block is 2" X 1 3/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Scientific American Weekly Newspaper Advertisement. The Scientific American is the oldest continuously published magazine in the U.S., has been bringing its readers news and insights about developments in science and technology for more than 150 years.  The block is 2" X 2 3/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Harper Engineering Co. Columbus, Ohio Advertisement Copyright 1900. The block is signed E.A. Wader I don't know if he was the carver of the block or the illustrator of the picture. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 2" X 2 1/16" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Support Your Local Gunfighter Movie Newspaper Advertisement. This block is an ad for "Support Your Local Gunfighter" (1971) Movie. James Garner plays a ladies man who ends up on the run from a conquest. He has an embarrassing problem that requires a doctor, but that is not immediately disclosed. He and a town bar sweep form a plot to impersonate a well known gunfighter so that Garner can pay off his debts and skip town before the soon to come arrival of the real gunfighter. The cast is almost identical to ..Support your local sheriff!.. and the humor is similar. could!"  The block is 6 15/16" X 2 7/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block F.E. Lindstrom Monitor Brand Pliers Newspaper Advertisement.  The block is 4 3/16" X 2" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Armour's Star Pure Lard Newspaper Advertisement. Armour's Star had been in business from the 1920's right up into the 1970's, I can't find anything to say if their still in business.  The block is 1 7/16" X 1 3/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Wheaties Cereal Newspaper Advertisement. The breakfast of champions. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 1 5/16" X 7/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Chrysler Motors Co. Newspaper Advertisement. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 5/8" X 13/16" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Camay Soap Co. Newspaper Advertisement. Camay the Soap of Beautiful Women.  The block is 1 1/16" X 1 7/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Ledo Tool MFG Co. Pat. '05 Advertisement. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 2" X 2 1/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Old Time Rocking Chair Advertisement. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 1 7/16" X 2 1/2" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Horse Drawn Implement Advertisement. This is either a disker or a rake of some kind. I looked through Case, McCormick and of course John Deere horse drawn farm equipment ads looking to ID the one on the print block, but couldn't find an exact match. If you look at the back of the block it looks like the copper was mounted to two separate blocks, only the bottom one remains.  The block is 3 3/16" X 2 3/16" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Cy Cology Sez: Cartoon. The blocks text reads "When you find a fellow who owns up to his ignorance, you may be talking to a very wise man". These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 2 3/4" X 1 1/2" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Cy Cology Sez: Cartoon. The blocks text reads "The man who does a lot of working is happier than the man who does a lot of thinking, he thinks he is anyway". These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 2 3/4" X 1 5/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Chevrolet Bowtie Logo Advertisement. The block is small and made of all metal. The face of the block appears to have been banged in the press causing some angular flats and dents in the typeface. Still a great piece of Chevrolet Bowtie history.  The block is 1" X 5/16" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Rizo Wonder Compound for Hair Advertisement. The blocks text reads "Rizo The Wonder Compound for the Hair". These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 2" X 2 1/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Holder. There is space for 16 different print blocks. The spaces vary in size but are typically around 1 1/8" high and vary from 7/8" to 1 3/4" across. The holder comes with 6 print blocks, a piano, fleur de lis, clover leaf, high rise building, steer or cow, and steam locomotive.  The holder is 6" X 6 3/4" and has some bumps and bruises, and please don't trust the hangers on the back. The blocks themselves have a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Gavel. The block shows an old time gavel. There is a very small angular flat spot at the tip of the handle between my fingers, where it was banged.  The block is 4 1/2" X 1 1/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Farm Radio Station Advertisement. I don't know the meaning of having a barn together with a radio station tower, pirate radio maybe, I dunno.  The block is 1 7/8" X 1 5/16" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Print Block Vikon Incorporated Advertisement.  The block is 2 3/16" X 1" and appears to be newer as the material (not metal) is bonded or glued to the block. There is a white dough like substance on the back. It has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Victorian Mansion Newspaper Advertisement. The block shows a beautiful old Victorian Mansion with all the fancy trimmings. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 3" X 2 13/16" and weighs a little over 1 lb. It has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a some light surface scratches in the upper left corner. 

Vintage Print Block Bass Fishing Lures Advertisement. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 3 11/16" X 1 5/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Vintage Print Block Bass Plug Fishing Lures Advertisement. These print blocks were used when old fashioned printing presses and typesetters were still used to print the newspapers. The block is 3 11/16" X 1 5/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Print Block Old Farm House in run down condition. This one is a little newer than the others I have had for sale as this one is bonded to the wooden block, not nailed.  The block is 2 5/16" X 6 3/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Print Block Indians Cartoon Characters. The surface of the block has some whiteish corrosion on it with a few small dings in the print surface. The back wood exhibits some termite munching damage. It may have been left in an old typeset desk that was moved outside when the newspaper upgraded to more modern methods of printing.  The block is 2 3/16" X 2 7/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches. 

Tuxedo Newspaper Advertisement. This one appears to have never been finished as there is no wooden piece under his arm sticking out. The printing surface also seems to be linoleum as it adheres to the block with a sticky back and the backing paper is still on the arm sticking out. Later model print blocks used linoleum as a carve able print surface. The surface is lifting slightly under the man's head. The block is 2 5/16" X 6 3/8" and has a build up of ink, bumps, bruises and a few light surface scratches.