Printing Press In this reproduction of Gutenberg’s printing press, metal type sits in a frame (right) ready to be placed in the bottom part of the press, with a leather-covered ink ball for spreading ink on the type ready nearby. Once the type was in place, paper was placed over the frame and a heavy metal plate (left) was lowered onto the paper with a firm pull of the large wooden handle, a technology adapted from winepresses.

(Gutenberg Museum, Mainz, Germany/Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY)