What Makes a Print Box Successful?

In the Print Box Manchester was a city of mass production. The factories sent representatives to town on a regular basis to discuss trade and buy products. They also ran test jobs to check makeready and colour management controls.

Print Box in Manchester:

A major catalyst for the city's growth was its relationship with the cotton trade. This meant that the city became a world centre for the production of textiles. Cotton was transported via the Manchester Ship Canal and manufactured in the city's mills. As the trade increased Print Box Manchester developed into a city known as Cottonopolis, or Cotton Town.

Another key influence was James Duffield Harding, an influential watercolourist and oil painter. His watercolours of Manchester are often used by historians of the city. He produced the 'good old times' novelisation of the 1745 rising. He is also credited with re-drawing John Ralston's famous sketch of the Old Thatched House Tavern.

Many of the engravings on the Manchester Scrapbook depict grand houses and buildings. For example, the 'Market Place' lithograph features a burgeoning industry. It was derived from the original Ralston drawing. Although the picture is small it is an interesting image of early nineteenth century Manchester.

Mass Production:

Another notable figure was Mather Brown, who was a principal artist for His Royal Highness the Duke of York. Having moved to Manchester from Massachusetts, he became a member of the Fine Art Academy. His paintings mainly show the working class population of Manchester.

Manchester is not only a place of mass production but of high art as well. For instance, one of the earliest printed works to include Lancashire was the Traditions of Lancashire by John Roby, published by Longman in 1829. It was also the subject of the novelisation by William Harrison Ainsworth, known as the Good Old Times.

Another illustrative piece was the 'Pubs of Manchester' blog. It is not clear whether or not this was a print or an actual pub. However, it was located in the area of Shudehill and Knott's the Poulterer. The pub is no longer in existence.

Advertised Business:

Manchester has a blog and is an interesting source of information about the history of the pub. Other images on the blog are of the H. Webb hotel, which advertised business travel and overnight accommodation. There is also a picture of the Rover's Return, which was a pub and is no longer in operation.

One of the most important early trade directories was the Pigot directory, which is used by many historians of Manchester. It was based on a series of drawings by John Ralston. These were originally drawn from a vantage point on the Salford side of the Irwell, but were re-drawn later.

In a few years' time the city's parish church was rededicated as the Collegiate Foundation. It is