Block Printing Machine

This block printing machine was operated for almost 100 years at a fabric printing mill in Lindau until it was replaced in 1975 by a modern printing machine. Three generations worked with these machines to produce textiles of all types, in the end Bavarian print handkerchiefs. Modelled on the hand-operated block printing process, the machine operates in discontinuous cycyles. The fabric is stationary, the block of form covered with dye presses the pattern onto the fabric much like a stamp. The fabric is then transported forward by one pattern width ("rapport" = repeat of pattern) and stamped again. The color design of the two blocks complete the final pattern. Modern fabric printing machines work continuously by rotation. The sheets of cloth race at high speeds (up to 150 m per minute) past rotating, engraved metal cylinders (cylinder roller printing) or past hollow cylinders with perforated printing screens (rotary screen printing) and are printed.