1. The Printing Press
By Amanda

2. Who Invented the Printing Press?
The Printing press is believed to be invented by Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg (AKA John Gutenberg) although it is also believed (by some) that the Chinese REALLY invented the printing press, and Gutenberg fine tuned it.

3. Who was John Gutenberg?
John Gutenberg was a German goldsmith, and printer. He is famous for his printing press, and his “Gutenberg Bible”. This was one of the first things he printed, and was known by its 42 lines on each page.

4. How did printing change the cost of a book?
The “Gutenberg Bible” sold for about thirty florins each, which was roughly three years wages for an average clerk. Still, this was much less than a hand printed bible would have cost. A hand written bible would sometimes take a whole year to finish, if it was done by hand. Not only did the monks hand copy it, they illustrated it.

5. The Gutenberg press
Gutenberg’s early printing process, and what tests he may have made are not known in great detail. His later bibles were printed six paged at a time, and would’ve needed 100,000 pieces of type-making the type alone would’ve took years. It is thought that the Gutenberg-Fust (that was his business partner)shop had 25 employees.
Gutenberg's early printing process, and what tests he may have made with movable type, are not known in great detail. His later Bibles were printed six pages at a time, and would have required 100,000 pieces of type—making the type alone would take years.[14] Setting each page would take at least half a day, and considering all the work in loading the press, inking the type, hanging up the sheets, etc., it is thought that the Gutenberg–Fust shop might have employed about 25 craftsmen.
Gutenberg's technique of making movable type remains unclear. In the following decades, punches and copper matrices became standardized in the rapidly disseminating printing presses across Europe. Whether Gutenberg used this sophisticated technique or a somewhat primitive version has been the subject of considerable debate.
In the standard process of making type, a hard metal punch (with the letter carved back to front) is hammered into the soft metal copper, creating a mould or matrix. This is then placed into a holder, and cast by filling with hot type-metal, which cooled down to create a piece of type. The matrix can now be reused to create hundreds of identical letters, so that the same type appearing anywhere in the book will appear similar, giving rise to the growth of fonts. Subsequently, these letters are placed on a rack and inked; using a press, many hundred copies can be made. The letters can be reused in any combination, earning the process the name of 'movable type'. (For details, see Typography).

6. Fust takes Gutenberg to court!
Around 1455, Fust and Gutenberg began fighting, and Fust demanded his money back. Meanwhile, the expenses of the Bible project had proliferated, and Gutenberg’s debt was now over 2,000 guilders.
Sometime in 1455, there was a dispute between Gutenberg and Fust, and Fust demanded his money back, accusing Gutenberg of misusing the funds. Meanwhile the expenses of the Bible project had proliferated, and Gutenberg's debt now exceeded 2,000 guilders. Fust sued at the archbishop's court. A November 1455 legal document records that there was a partnership for a "project of the books," the funds for which Gutenberg had used for other purposes, according to Fust. The court decided in favor of Fust, giving him control over the Bible printing workshop and half of all printed Bibles.
Thus Gutenberg was effectively bankrupt, but it appears he retained (or re-started) a small printing shop, and participated in the printing of a Bible in the town of Bamberg around 1459, for which he at least supplied the type. But since his printed books never carry his name or a date, it is difficult to be certain, and there is consequently a considerable amount of scholarly literature on this subject. It is also possible that the large Catholicon dictionary, 300 copies of 744 pages, printed in Mainz in 1460, may have been executed in his workshop.
Meanwhile, the Fust–Schöffer shop was the first in Europe to bring out a book with the printer's name and date, the Mainz Psalter of August 1457, and while proudly proclaiming the mechanical process by which it had been produced, it made no mention of Gutenberg.

7. Fust Sues!
Gutenberg was sued at the archbishop’s court, by Fust. Sometime around November 1455 a legal document records that Gutenberg had used the funds for the books, on something else. The court decided in favor of Fust, giving him control over the Bible printing workshop, and half of the Bibles.
Fust sued at the archbishop's court. A November 1455 legal document records that there was a partnership for a "project of the books," the funds for which Gutenberg had used for other purposes, according to Fust. The court decided in favor of Fust, giving him control over the Bible printing workshop and half of all printed Bibles.
Thus Gutenberg was effectively bankrupt, but it appears he retained (or re-started) a small printing shop, and participated in the printing of a Bible in the town of Bamberg around 1459, for which he at least supplied the type. But since his printed books never carry his name or a date, it is difficult to be certain, and there is consequently a considerable amount of scholarly literature on this subject. It is also possible that the large Catholicon dictionary, 300 copies of 744 pages, printed in Mainz in 1460, may have been executed in his workshop.
Meanwhile, the Fust–Schöffer shop was the first in Europe to bring out a book with the printer's name and date, the Mainz Psalter of August 1457, and while proudly proclaiming the mechanical process by which it had been produced, it made no mention of Gutenberg.

8. Gutenberg is Bankrupt!
After Gutenberg went bankrupt, it appears that he re-started a small printing shop, and participated in the printing of a Bible, in the town of Bamberg around It is also possible that the large Catholicon dictionary 300 of the 744 pages printed in Mainz, may have been made in his workshop.
Thus Gutenberg was effectively bankrupt, but it appears he retained (or re-started) a small printing shop, and participated in the printing of a Bible in the town of Bamberg around 1459, for which he at least supplied the type. But since his printed books never carry his name or a date, it is difficult to be certain, and there is consequently a considerable amount of scholarly literature on this subject. It is also possible that the large Catholicon dictionary, 300 copies of 744 pages, printed in Mainz in 1460, may have been executed in his workshop.
Meanwhile, the Fust–Schöffer shop was the first in Europe to bring out a book with the printer's name and date, the Mainz Psalter of August 1457, and while proudly proclaiming the mechanical process by which it had been produced, it made no mention of Gutenberg.

9. Outline The Printing Press I. Who Invented the Printing Press?
A.   The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg,who was a german inventor, and goldsmith.
1.       Gutenberg was born between 1394, and He died in 1468.
B.   How Did Gutenberg’s Printing Press Work?
1.       The Gutenberg press was a hand press, in which ink was rolled over the raised surfaces of the moveable block letters within the form, and then the form was placed on a piece of paper .
The Printing Press
I.                    Who Invented the Printing Press?
A.   The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg,who was a german inventor, and goldsmith. [1]
1.       Gutenberg was born between 1394, and He died in 1468.
B.   How Did Gutenberg’s Printing Press Work?
1.       The Gutenberg press was a hand press, in which ink was rolled over the raised surfaces of the moveable block letters within the form, and then the form was placed on a piece of paper.
II.              How long did the printing press last?
A.   The Gutenberg press was used until about 300 years later. Then Lord Stanhope constructed a press completely from cast iron, which reduced the size by 90% while doubling the size of the printed area.
B.   While Stanhopes press was an improvement, it still only printed 250 pages an hour. German printer Friedrich Koenig would be the first to invent a press that used no manpower; it ran off of steam.
1.       I believe that the printing press was a very important invention. Times were changing, and it is was good that technology was too. In the years before the printing press, books were rare things. Each book had to be hand written, which took years, and years. With the printing press, things got whole lot easier....and cheaper.
In Conclusion, I believe that had the printing press not been invented, we might still be hand lettering our books. One of my theories is that the monks were actually people who were disliked by the king, so he made them wear dresses, and do copy work for the rest of their lives. Now, thats what I call Medieval torture. Gutenberg spared us from having to do this by coming up with the absolutely brilliant printing press.  [1]
Temp Account
Mar 9, '10, 1:25 PM

10. Outline II. How long did the printing press last?
A.   The Gutenberg press was used until about 300 years later. Then Lord Stanhope constructed a press completely from cast iron, which reduced the size by 90% while doubling the size of the printed area.
B.   While Stanhopes press was an improvement, it still only printed 250 pages an hour. German printer Friedrich Koenig would be the first to invent a press that used no manpower; it ran off of steam.

11. Outline
In Conclusion, I believe that had the printing press not been invented, we might still be hand lettering our books. One of my theories is that the monks were actually people who were disliked by the king, so he made them wear dresses, and do copy work for the rest of their lives. Now, that's what I call Medieval torture! Gutenberg spared us from having to do this by coming up with the absolutely brilliant printing press.   

12. More Info
For more info on the printing press, check out these links
For a funny printing press video check out this link
Thanks for watching!