Order Only: Daddy's printing press

[alt_luna]

This is a secret that the other members of the Institute know about, but I think the Order should know, too.

Daddy had two printing presses, a larger one that he used most of the time, and a smaller one, his first press, that he used as backup. The Ministry confiscated the larger press when the Quibbler was shut down, but he had the smaller one stored in the back of our garden shed, because he wasn't using it anymore, and they didn't find it. Daddy then buried it, along with the printing plates.

I know where it is buried, and it would be easier for me to get to it now, during the summer months.

Could the Order use a printing press?

Comments

[alt_lee]

What's it take to run one? Space and ink and paper, yeah? Besides the plates and whatever.

I'd still like to see about radio at Aldrich Town, but radio's not going to reach everyone, yeah? And some stuff's better in print, maybe.

[alt_sirius]

Luna Lovegood, that's brilliant.

I'm sure we could figure out how to install it at Grimmauld.

The question is how to keep it supplied - materials and content. And what content we ought to produce.

[alt_bill]

Sorry, I should have responded to this sooner, but I've been utterly swamped at work.

I think this is a excellent idea, too, and thanks, Luna, for offering us the press. Twelve Grimmauld Place is certainly one possibility. I wonder, though: do we want to write and produce whatever we print with it ourselves, or should we consider enlisting the aid of some of our affiliated groups? Or both? I wonder, for example, whether we might consider placing it at Aldrich Town, along with Lee's proposed radio station? (Lee, do you think you might have any interest in this project, too?)

Distribution of whatever we print will take some careful planning. Perhaps we can enlist the buttonholders to assist us, or at least to offer suggestions?

[alt_sirius]

Wherever it is, it should be someplace protected by Fidelius.

I suppose it all depends on what we want to have printed, whether we'd rather retain control ourselves or pass it along to someone else. I'd be a little worried about whether it'll really be a free press if we give it up to an allied location. But then, they probably have the same fear.

[alt_lee]

I would, yeah. Don't know much about printing, but I can learn.

Also, my dad's been pushing me to get a job, and he found one that's a sort of courier thing. Carrying stuff that can't go by floo or needs to be signed for. Irregular hours, too, so my folks won't fuss about when I'm home as much as they have been.

Most of it's real boring, I guess, but maybe there's an option for distribution there too.

What would we need to make the press work? Besides paper and ink, I mean?

[alt_luna]

Paper and ink is all you need for raw materials. You have to set the type for it, which takes a little getting used to--you have to be able to read backwards letters. There's a charm for setting type magically. I've never done it, but I saw Daddy do it all the time, and I think I can remember how it's done enough to demonstrate it. Anyway, I can try. Type can be set by hand, of course, but that's much more labourious.

[alt_gredforge]

Where's the press hidden? We can come with you to help dig it up or extract it or whatever, once we've figured out where to take it.

[alt_luna]

Oh, that would be quite kind of you. It's a bit large for me to handle by myself, but if you could help me that would be wonderful. I can show you the hiding place; it's close to our old property.

[alt_lee]

Count me in if I can get free.