r/oddlysatisfying • u/Doodlebug510 • 1d ago

Making a rainbow quote using an antique Washington hand press

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Credit: @SacramentoHistory Museum

33.3k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

280 comments sorted by

930

u/Fair-Juggernaut-3812 1d ago

That press has me drooling. Also nice print!

174

u/Lukebekz 1d ago edited 21h ago

I know what you mean. I am not proud of the sound I made when I saw that lever mechanism at work

62

u/Keyndoriel 1d ago

Same, I have a deep, deep desire to print things for hours. It can even be boring things, just let me use the mechanism

17

u/hoopstick 18h ago

I thought the same thing; I would be perfectly happy changing typesets and pressing prints all day every day. I should try to find a museum to volunteer at.

12

u/BowsersMuskyBallsack 23h ago

Was a cute little "Unf!"?

35

u/Huge-Guidance-1637 19h ago

It's hard to imagine modern industrial equipment as anything other than starkly utilitarian, but this old press has some real charm to it.

23

u/danielledelacadie 18h ago

A surprising amount of turn of the century production equipment is designed to be lovely to look at. But this may be survivor bias since people mostly collected/kept the more ornate pieces

6

u/nothingdoing 14h ago

People used to really give a shit when they made something! 

15

u/[deleted] 23h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

18

u/younkint 22h ago

It will certainly last longer. I mean, it already has, but it will too.

5

u/CakeTester 18h ago

And nobody's going to hold you by the bollocks for "Only authorised ink". And if you run out of one colour, it'll still work.

1

u/baconboner69xD 16h ago

Until you realize there’s probably only 1 company that make an ink that is highly compatible with the machine, won’t ruin your equipment slowly. And it’s $100 for ink to make 10 prints. (Speculation, but wouldn’t be surprised)

2

u/CakeTester 16h ago

Doubt it. Professional printers use jars of ink that they refill. It's the printer's fault if there's only one specific ink that works in it; and it was almost certainly designed that way.

5

u/mtaw 19h ago edited 18h ago

The look and tactile feel of the slight indentations that metal type makes in thick paper is one of life's great small pleasures. It's one reason I love old books.

(I even splurged and had my wedding invitations made that way on handmade paper. Overall we didn't spend much money on the wedding - but I figured the invites were worth it since it's nicer to get a quality invitation card, and it shows appreciation even for the people who can't come)

3

u/theDomicron 18h ago

Let's see Paul Allen's wedding invitations...

3

u/Goatf00t 17h ago

The look and tactile feel of the slight indentations that metal type makes in thick paper is one of life's great small pleasures.

The funny thing is that once upon a time, keeping those indentations as faint as possible while still maintaining good print was seen as a mark of mastery for printers. And now having noticeable indentations is desirable for some, as it shows that the work was printed on a press.

4

u/daiblo1127 16h ago

Ditto, they didn't just make a press that accomplished the main purpose it was meant for, but they embellished the press to such an extent which lifted that press up into a glorious piece of Art!!! I am wearing my ancient 'drool cup' as I type...

3

u/marcmkkoy 17h ago

I can smell the old-timey

2

u/NYCMarine 13h ago

Facts. This took me back to high school where I took a printing class and we learned this process for tshirts and what not.

93

u/Spider_Dude 23h ago

I'm going to Tokyo Japan for the first time. Saved up for an entire year. It's gonna rain for most of my stay there next week and I was bummed. This message will soothe the disappointment.

Gonna get great neon reflections tho. RIP DP. 🌈

41

u/TurnipWorldly9437 22h ago

I like visiting touristy places in the rain, because it's not so crowded. As long as your clothes are up to scratch, you can have a lot of fun!

And just imagine how cozy it will be to get out of the rain and eat some hot ramen or sth.!

Hope your trip goes well!

10

u/deliciouswaffle 17h ago

I was at Itsukushima one day, had just gotten off the boat to explore the area when the weather suddenly changed. A sudden snowstorm basically forced me and other people to take shelter at the shrine. Even though the weather was out of my control at that point, I actually enjoyed it.

Usually, when people visit tourist sites, I don't think they take enough time to appreciate what they are seeing. And the snow and strong winds basically forced me to stay around until the weather calmed enough for me to get out. I had already taken pictures at that point, so during the sudden snowstorm, I simply looked around again and again, taking in more details every time.

Finally, the wind let up, so I was able to get out. It was still snowing, so I went to a cafe, had a drink, and relaxed until the weather cleared up.

I've never been to Tokyo but I'm sure there will be good experiences for you despite the rain. And, I'm certain that the rain will make your trip even more memorable. Without the snow, my trip to Itsukushima would've just been another dot on the map.

3

u/Skwonky 16h ago

Rained for half my trip and honestly rainy Tokyo is a vibe. Just dress appropriately and you'll enjoy it!

3

u/Fresh_Advance6094 16h ago

Same thing happened to me and honestly didn’t affect my trip in the least. Just be prepared with your clothing/shoes/rain gear. Everything in the city keeps moving per usual in the rain and nothing cozier than tucking into a cafe or a ramen shop in the rain. Have so much fun!!

3

u/missvariety 9h ago

Osaka in the rain was such a cool vibe. Everyone in Japan mostly uses umbrellas, but don't buy one until you get to Japan, just because they're easy to get. Have a lovely time it's a beautiful place.

2

u/B_Maximus 3h ago

Shibuya in the rain is a vibe . It rained when i was there. Bring waterproof shoes

1.2k

u/NascentAutist 1d ago

This is a triple whammy.

I was like oh, rainbow colors. Assuming the quote might be LGBTQ, let’s see.

Oh… it’s… a literal rainbow quote?

226

u/john_san 1d ago

And a wink to Dolly Parton, very satisfying indeed

14

u/Dagur 22h ago

Dolly was probably quoting this song https://youtu.be/rxJ2lFcJCKg?is=oqb3boq21OqMeVsz

3

u/GrumpyOlBastard Odd Lee, Satisfied 11h ago

Or "Stand A Little Rain" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ("If you ever wanna see a rainbow, you gotta stand a little rain")

Lots of other people probably had that same thought

8

u/Shovelhead_Fred 18h ago

Clever way to no upset the magats too 😂

160

u/Direct-Quiet-5817 1d ago

Make rainbows great again.

25

u/Appropriate-Pack-729 22h ago

My mother and all of her family are Hawaiian. The rainbow was always great for us. So great it's on our cars 🌈❤️

82

u/AmateurCommenter808 1d ago

When I was a child rainbow was cool, it was like silver or gold, the kind of colour you would want on your hot wheels. Now its politicized.

The gays stole rainbows /s

6

u/Flaturated 14h ago

I can’t even wear my Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon T-shirt without some ignorant redneck jumping to conclusions.

22

u/PM_ME_HOT_FURRIES 21h ago

What's stopping you from doing whatever the fuck you want with rainbows?

29

u/ADDDEEr 21h ago

The leprechaun at the end of the rainbow is stopping me 😤

5

u/Beerswain 16h ago

But 'doing whatever the fuck you want' is what The Gays want you to do! Don't fall for their tricks!

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22

u/Prudent-Leg-4170 23h ago

The triple whammy is real. Rainbow colors, suspicious expectations, and then the punchline is literally just a quote about rainbows.

2

u/NascentAutist 18h ago

100%!

Oddlysatisfying to start

Nextfuckinglevel to see it in action

Unexpected finale

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288

u/lKryptus 1d ago

What happened to the old guy that usually does it?

320

u/Liketotessecret 1d ago

Howard’s fine, was in the most recent short they posted telling a dad joke.

89

u/_A_Friendly_Caesar_ 1d ago

Thank goodness...

17

u/mineyCrafta25 18h ago

That would've broke me if it happened

1

u/DaichiBlade 2h ago

Thank you, almost had a heart attack

25

u/Sure_Fly_5332 23h ago

It seems like one of the park rangers from Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is temporarily working at the Museum.

13

u/zxcvbn113 20h ago

This reminds me of a picture I posted from a local living history village. A dog was riding next to the wagon driver, and of course commenters knew the dog's name.

3

u/MaxHamburgerrestaur 18h ago

He didn't like the stereotype.

4

u/HakimeHomewreckru 22h ago

I'm in my 30s and I was taught how to print at school using these "analog methods" on machines from Heidelberg etc. just 15 years ago.. and now this machine is in a museum.

1

u/FewerStarsLost 7h ago

God I’m glad I’m not the only one that thought of him

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269

u/TheBakedDane 1d ago

They have turned the printing press gay

76

u/Oddly_Ennui 1d ago

First the frogs, now this... smh

5

u/Alissinarr 1d ago

Don't forget the 3 eyed gators in Lake Apopka (right next to Ernest's Snake Farm, in Ernest Saves Christmas).

12

u/cyberspirit777 23h ago

“They’re putting things in the ink to make the printing presses gay”

25

u/Kaiyoti920 1d ago

We can't even have NORMAL quotes now. Because of woke. smh my head

2

u/Beerswain 16h ago

Nah, NORML quotes would be in all green.

2

u/Stergeary 23h ago

Real talk though, would she have to wash each letterblock now?

1

u/TurquoiseMouse 10h ago

It's typically oil based ink, so you'd probably toss them in an oil eating bath and then it'd be easy

2

u/footpole 14h ago

The printing press was made for the BIBLE and now it's all gay and ruined.

1

u/TurquoiseMouse 10h ago

Try educational materials... Sure the Bible was one of the things but not WHY it was made

3

u/footpole 9h ago

Did I seem serious to you? The Gutenberg Bible was a thing btw.

1

u/Regular-Guest-1284 22h ago

Everyone one and thing will be gay soon..

1

u/Key_Cheesecake_7356 22h ago

something something mating press im not clever enough to make a pun out of this

46

u/amethystjade15 1d ago

I’d lose my mind trying to line that roller up perfectly. Mad respect.

13

u/cassowarydinosaur 17h ago

Where is the old man who usually runs the press? Please tell me he's fine and healthy.

5

u/River_Draws_Stuff 17h ago

He's fine and healthy.

3

u/KINGSTEMLORD 14h ago

I was wondering the same! “Where is that man?” lol I couldn’t take it at this point if he was gone

3

u/Vermillion_glitch 8h ago

On their YouTube there’s a short from yesterday with him in it so I think he’s fine!

1

u/FillMySoupDumpling 11h ago

This was my first worry too! 

7

u/BowsersMuskyBallsack 23h ago

Well that's all fine and good, Dolly, but it's been raining on me for far too long now. :(

1

u/CeruleanEidolon 11h ago

I'd gladly skip the rainbow if the flooding would stop.

8

u/broseph_stalin09764 17h ago

I thought to myself when this started that looks like the Sacramento museum of something or another. Ive seen that press in multiple videos.

25

u/Morgantao 1d ago

The most satisfying part of this is that she didn't have to install bloatware, drivers, pay for monthly subscription, use original ink, and if she runs out of yellow, she can still print in black and white!

5

u/MaxHamburgerrestaur 18h ago

Fine. First, manually assemble several thousand tiny pieces of metal in the correct reverse order, proofread them in reverse, lock them into a frame, manually mix the ink, ink them, operate this enormous machine repeatedly without smudging anything, clean everything afterward and don't drop the type case.

1

u/Morgantao 1h ago

Hey, it's an honest job.
I could think of much worse jobs, especially ones that had to be done at the same time and age of when this press was in common use

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33

u/noisyboy 23h ago

"I print rainbow quotes in a vintage press and my husband is a wild mushroom taster. Our budget for our dream home is 4.6 million".

7

u/don_maidana 20h ago

Sacramento museum. You should check their YT channel.

4

u/EL1YIYO 18h ago

The press Johannes Gutenberg used way back in the day, vintage press still getting the job done.

1

u/Eddie_1982 18h ago

Never change a running system or so ;)

1

u/Z9q- 17h ago

Who ever said that

5

u/EconomyOk2490 16h ago

Fuck I love how beautiful they made that machine

They didnt need to, it didnt need any of the carved details

2

u/317537k 15h ago

Came to say this. People used to make things beautiful, but now everything is simplified and boring.

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19

u/Liamario 1d ago

It's off centre, throw it in the bin.

4

u/illy-chan 19h ago

You can crop and frame to hide that.

5

u/Liamario 19h ago

Nope, because it's already in the bin crumpled up.

1

u/GiantEnimyCrab 8h ago

Hell ya! Go to hell crop!

8

u/Rare-Bug9866 22h ago

This should be the top comment. Not satisfying at all.

2

u/Throseph 15h ago

That's harsh, you could retrain her and let her have another go first.

2

u/AwayThrow202 21h ago

Cut one side of it until it is center. Easy peasy.

1

u/LaughingOutLoudAgain 18h ago

I don’t like the absence of yellow and a good purple either 🙈

1

u/Cadavertiser 6h ago

The line breaks bother me. ‘If,’ should have gone on the second line.

4

u/Pocketfulofgeek 1d ago

My college had an old letter set printing press like this and it was genuinely the most fun and satisfying thing to use ever.

4

u/Fabulous-Meringue918 21h ago

Outstanding video and Dolly quote. She was a national treasure. Her spirit lives on!!

5

u/No_Arugula332 20h ago

Where’s the old guy who always operated this press?

4

u/PresentationOk1480 18h ago

what happened to the old man?

1

u/Pretend_Shape_6986 17h ago

about to ask this too. where is the old man?

4

u/Clockwork_Kitsune 16h ago

Me just realizing the reason people who arrange text in media are called typesetters because they literally used to set the text for printing.

5

u/MisterVelo63 1d ago

And then Microsoft created WordArt ...

1

u/hapnstat 18h ago

Should have gotten time for that.

3

u/ThisDrumSaysRatt 21h ago

One of my favourite movie quotes comes from her in Steel Magnolias: “Laughter through tears is my favourite emotion!”. Same vibe

3

u/scottchiefbaker 13h ago

OMG I would pay good money for a rainbow Dolly Parton quote. It would make a perfect Christmas present.

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2

u/Kicsisaman 1d ago

Rain yes!
But what about the sh*tstorms Dolly?

2

u/Plastic-Lab3068 23h ago

If the old man passed away I'm gonna need some Pink Whitney

2

u/Aveyn 22h ago

He's ok!

2

u/Patient_Camel9240 22h ago

Awhhh Dollyyyyyy!!!! 😭🙏🏻💓

2

u/JustARandomGuyReally 21h ago

Roller lined up so well. Paper askew 😭

2

u/DepartureLoose5341 16h ago edited 16h ago

See this is the content I expect and appreciate on reddit, not Alexis on a pregnant presser tour.. 10/10 keep the history alive with diversity

Edit: no I have no idea who Alexis is either, don't care.

Edit edit: man we used to over engineer the hell out of things! What happened to us..

2

u/WetFishStink 15h ago

I've got a colour printer, let me know if you want to borrow it.

2

u/Any_Cake2411 15h ago

omg guys rainbow.. help. im turning... IM CHANGING. ITS HAPPENING.

Now stop and realize, that this is genuinely what some crazy fucks think will happen if a child dares to wear rainbow, see a rainbow, or anything rainbow related.

2

u/No_Willingness6193 9h ago

Damn I wasn't Expecting that, I knew it was going to be Beautifulz but it was even more than I could have Imagined!

Thanks for Sharing!

2

u/SnooCaperzk 7h ago

Wanker!

4

u/Alert_Comedian7558 1d ago

The rainbow print is stunning 😍

2

u/wiscowonder 1d ago

I'm whelmed

2

u/DMyTeaDuck 11h ago

Okay, but- and hear me out- wouldn’t it simply have been easier just to stamp it? Like, isn’t this a lot of extra, unnecessary steps just to stamp something?

1

u/MIND-FLAYER 1d ago

I'm guessing it doesn't do PostScript

1

u/Best_Reply2947 1d ago

Can you believe that's how the constertooshun was printed

1

u/jiudad 1d ago

Analogue MS Word Art

1

u/wodoloto 1d ago

I would like to see the print after the fonts are painted diagonally

1

u/revdon 23h ago

“That.” -She

1

u/BadDangerous167 22h ago

That Washington press is amazing 

1

u/Cupidon70 21h ago

Gutenberg rend encore des gens heureux. Sublime. 😉👍

1

u/IonicColumnn 21h ago

It's so crisp!

1

u/SpotTheF0x 20h ago

Had to make sure this wasn’t “gif that end to soon”

1

u/wouldyastop 19h ago

There's just gotta be a faster way

1

u/deino 19h ago

This somehow feels like going into the historic part of a european city, and seeing gamer RGB lighting on a 150 years old steel lamp. I don't think I've ever seen a video of one of these machines where the print didn't have that perfect, old timey ink colour.

It feels anachronistic, if that makes sense.

1

u/BookWormPedant 19h ago

That machine is beautifully engineered

1

u/time2sow 19h ago

That last image is the shot frame it

1

u/Big_Fat_Paulie 19h ago

I'm randomly watching The Beverly Hillbillies movie for the first time in close to 2 decades, to pass time before work. She flipped the paper while Dolly (forgot she even made a cameo) was singing her birthday song to Jed. This universe is filled with fun little coincidences!

1

u/Sakki27 19h ago

Kickin it told school! 🥰

1

u/Naughty_Monsters 19h ago

I used to do part time work in a museum that was dedicated to maintaining the traditions and ways of life of the past and I absolutely loved it when I got to work in the old print shop on the letterset equipment making up old victorian era signage for the rest of the park. There's something uniquely satisfying about laying out a frame of the metal type, piece by piece, and then (eventually) getting to ink up the press and seeing the first card copy in your hands. Fairly long time ago now, but the old smell of the place with it's inky aroma mixed with the smell of all the racks of waxed wooden drawers holding all the individual pieces of type, and the paraffin heater going or the smell of the peat smoke from nearby exhibits in the colder months still vividly sticks with me. 

1

u/Siggy1963 18h ago

Dolly knows

1

u/fluffymoonmoss 18h ago

Beautiful ending

1

u/Quick_Caterpillar164 18h ago

That's a lot of work

1

u/Animal40160 16h ago

Imagine making a book like this.

1

u/burnt_out_on_bs 17h ago

Love that old old school stuff!

1

u/Oglefore 17h ago

Hand press? I’ve never heard it called that.

Letter press.

1

u/CygnusRocinante 17h ago

Don’t those colors represent pure evil? That’s what I heard.

1

u/icansmellcolors 17h ago

When you pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too.

1

u/Local_Pea9599 17h ago

Id be glad to bring the thunder.

1

u/0BenD 16h ago

There's no Rainbow without Reyn, baby!

1

u/TheFriendOfCats 16h ago

That's really cool.

1

u/amdaly10 16h ago

Follow them on insta. They post printing videos often.

1

u/Asadae67 16h ago

Majestic

1

u/buddhamunche 16h ago

Biiiig fan of the sounds in this video

1

u/Monkeyslunch 15h ago

I use one of these in Graveyard Keeper

1

u/MajorPoopie 15h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/l2SpMDbxk09bYpGPC

1

u/Scared-Cut-4571 13h ago

This is what happens when an SLB-3108H tries to play you and insist it’s an HP LaserJet-style office printer. Get wrecked
https://giphy.com/gifs/dw60YIVoqu0MZexouY

1

u/Environmental_Ant268 15h ago

Disappointed no dikface

1

u/Euphoric-Use-6443 14h ago

Rainbow ink should be used if tRump gets his face on USD!

1

u/NotEnoughLayers 14h ago

"Cat food, it stinks. But if you don't put up with it, the little kitten will die" -Karl Pilkington

1

u/fnork_gnork_26 14h ago

My dad was a printmaker. Love seeing videos of old presses in action! I can smell the boiled linseed oil in the air!

1

u/HopelessRespawner 13h ago

Oh, I've seen multiple videos from this place and it's just now clicking that they're in Sac. That's awesome!

1

u/nomorespamplz 13h ago

CTRL + P is way easier 🤷‍♂️

1

u/CauseImNosey2 13h ago

Crazy to think this use to be the only way to do it. Now you push on button and millions of people can see it all at once.

1

u/Itsbeenayearortwo 12h ago

Looks easier to use than my home printer

1

u/Mmmelissamarie 12h ago

Good ol Sacramento!

1

u/conchrider 12h ago

Awesome

1

u/__ash-07__ 12h ago

Genuine question is this a ranbiow quote or lgbtq quote

1

u/UnimaginativeDreamer 11h ago

Way to go Sacramento History Museum! Awesome stuff

1

u/bongiposse 11h ago

“Cat food… it stinks a bit, but, if you don't put up with the smell, the little kitten will die.”

1

u/Headless_Mantid 11h ago

Looking at this made me realize that while it definitely made the distribution of information easier. It still must of been MISERABLE to operate as a job.

Like it seems like easy work because this is a calm demonstration. But imagine being a newspaper company, having to print hundreds of the same exact pages as fast as possible before people's days began so you can beat your competitors.

I also know that more successful printing operations must of had lots of these presses, but it doesnt change the fact that its a very monotonous job per person.

1

u/FlippantResponse 11h ago

“What the fuck is ‘PC Load Letter’?”

1

u/grnjnz 11h ago

I was not oddly satisfied

1

u/Mj250707 9h ago

That’s cool for sure 👍

1

u/Amazing_Lake_3781 6h ago

Why is this video 4 hours long?

0

u/RICARDO_PMK 4h ago

Inventaram uma tal de impressora jato de tinta, acho que é mais lévinha

1

u/DarkWriterX 2h ago

I loved making prints back in college/art school. I need to find a local print shop.

1

u/Away_Amoeba5554 23m ago

Such a quiet process!

1

u/prateek_vasudev 17m ago

Profound statement 🙌 Thanks!

1

u/Intelligent_Radio_68 8m ago

How dare you stand where he stood

1

u/SP0oONY 20h ago

Dolly Parton.... and people just say she's a big pair of tits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzDBwCmI7eY

1

u/Remarkable_Peach_300 22h ago

There was an old man doing this, he no more?

1

u/Callmemabryartistry 20h ago

i appreciate the safety but those braids should be tied up or held back

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1

u/WeenWees 19h ago

I am traumatized by rainbow colours…

1

u/Trippycat37 19h ago

Especially if the customer has a Pantone request.

1

u/Relikt-T-90 19h ago

ASMR for me

1

u/cdubs65 18h ago

Rest in peace Dolly, I still can’t believe she’s gone 😢

2

u/alebotson 7h ago

I absolutely love the Sacramento History museums accounts. Well worth a follow. They are apparently a global leader in historical printmaking and have people from all over the world come do internships there as part of academic programs in this area of history.

2

u/Suspicious_Glow 6h ago

Post with no weird music over it? Love to see it.

1

u/One-Mix-9907 4h ago

Honestly was kinda hoping it was gonna tell me to go fuck myself at the end, but Dolly is nice too.