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Wigan Observer printing press on display at the Science Museum.
Photo: Colin Harlow

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The Wigan Observer's Victory-Kidder printing press on show at the London Science Museum. The 12-tonne press, which printed newspapers for nearly 100 years, has the serial number 37 and was built by the Victory Web Printing Machine Company in Liverpool in 1869. It began life producing the Liverpool Daily Post, but moved to the Wigan Observer in 1884, Where it spearheaded production until January 1966. The machine was acquired by the Science Museum in London around 1978 from the Liverpool Museum. It was in storage before being reassembled for the official opening of the new gallery by the Queen in June 2000. The Museums Senior Curator of Media Technologies, Dr John Griffiths, said that the press represented the backbone of Britains newspaper printing heritage for its period: "It's incredible that it has survived. It really was the workhorse of the industry until the mid 1960s." Colin Harlow along side the press who's late family spent almost 100 years on the press from 1904. Bottom left, the last copy to be printed by the press, and right, the press in it's working environment at Rowbottom Square.

Comment by: Alex on 3rd October 2014 at 17:05

What a great piece of Wigan industrial and family history.

Comment by: walley on 3rd October 2014 at 20:02

should of been scrapped my grandad bill worked on that engine at wigan examiner I remember him telling me how rubbish it was did you not know that it printed the examiner not only the oby as you are always on about it was printed in alley of king st

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 3rd October 2014 at 21:56

Firstly, it's not an Engine as you put it, it's a Machine.
The Wigan Observer press never printed any editions of the Examiner. The Examiner offices were based in King St, the Wigan Observer offices were in Rowbottom Sq.

Comment by: John B on 4th October 2014 at 07:59

Colin you must be very proud. Nice story.

Comment by: Kenee on 4th October 2014 at 10:22

Very interesting.
I would also like to see an enlargement of that Observer front page:
Wigan Casino, Room at the Top Club, Working Men's Clubs - A L Gibson, etc

Comment by: Stuart P on 4th October 2014 at 12:06

Walley is a remarkable person.
In the space of fifty words not only does he/she display an ignorance of newspaper history in Wigan and the mechanics thereof, but also makes clear to the world the fact he/she is rude, ill mannered, and incapable of following the most basic rules of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 4th October 2014 at 14:31

Kenee, if you click on to printers page 2, you can see the top half of this newspaper.

Comment by: Kenee on 5th October 2014 at 12:29

Thanks Colin, quite a few more interesting photos there.

Comment by: Jonno on 5th October 2014 at 14:31

I totally agree Stuart P, his comments were not worth a reply Colin, an obvious ignoramus, engine indeed!!

Comment by: Alan on 5th October 2014 at 15:44

Colin, just been on Printers, can I say what great fantastic History the Wigan Observer has. You are to be congratulated.

Comment by: Ann on 5th October 2014 at 15:47

Walley how ignorant you are, and you don't make sense, that says it all.

Comment by: Malcolm Ryding on 19th October 2014 at 08:13

As a former Observer staff member (reporter through to assistant editor) I applaud Colin on his dedication in chronicling the history of one of the town's treasures. His posts are clear and accurate and have jogged many happy memories of my time with a newspaper at the forefront of 'new' technology. Some 'wrinklies' get together a couple of times a year and Colin's pictures are often a great starting point for our chattering.

Comment by: Colin Harlow on 19th October 2014 at 16:23

Thank you Malcolm, I'm pleased you enjoy the history of the Wigan Observer and it's been a labour of love for me.
You have played a big part in the success of the Wigan Observer from 1966, and I applaud you and many former Observer staff who worked so hard to make the Wigan Observer the greatest Weekly in Britain at that time. The best years was without doubt, Woods ST. Cheers.

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