#frank rust

The Makings of a Modern Newspaper: The production of the Daily Mail in wartime London (1944):

Mr. Taylor, the Copytaster [centre background], reads through “copy” (stories) that are given to him and decides on whether or not they are suitable.  He then hands them on to the chief sub-editor, suggesting a particular treatment of the topic.  This scene is in sub-editor's room, and the time is 7:20pm.

Once a story has been prepared by the sub-editors, it is blown through a tube to the copy desk in the composing room.  Here in the composing room, men are working on the linotype machines, setting the copy that has been passed to them by the copy desk.

Editors at work at the “top table” in the sub-editor's room. Assistant editor S. W. G. Horniblow sits at the far end.  According to the original caption, “the sub-editors prepare copy for the compositors, cut it to fit the spaces available, check it for inaccuracies, grammar etc., and if necessary rewrite it.  They are the mainstay of a sound newspaper, require a wide knowledge of affairs, an adept mind capable of instant decisions, and long experience of newspaper practice.”

A newspaper man inserts a photograph into a cylinder in the London offices of the Daily Mail.  It is unclear whether this is part of the copying process, or if the cylinder will be sent down the tubes to the copy room, or another area of the building.

The Daily Mail is printed in Manchester as well as in London, to make delivery quicker.  Men work in the Manchester wire room of the London offices, sending stories to Manchester by wire for duplication in their edition of the paper.

Daily Mail photographer Frank Rust displays some of the cameras he uses for his work.  They range from a 35mm Contax to a specially-built camera with a 60'' telephoto lens.