Incredible Piece of GOSS History Discovered; the J.N. “Ding” Darling Stereotype Plate Making Machine (No. 45C).

The US Fish and Wildlife Service Archive in Shepherdstown, WV is home to an incredible piece of history— J.N. “Ding” Darling’s GOSS Stereotype Plate Making Machine (No. 45C). This printing press was used by Jay “Ding” Darling, to print his engravings.

Here’s what makes this story even more remarkable – Ding was the first director of the U.S. Biological Survey (now Fish and Wildlife Service) and creator of the first Federal Duck Stamp, still required annually for hunting waterfowl in the United States! His 1934 etched image of the stamp may have been printed with this historic machine.

The Stereotype Plate Making Machine (a combination Wet and Dry Matrix Rolling Machine, No. 45C with Motor Equipment, was patented in 1909 and manufactured by the GOSS Printing Press Company.

The Printing Press

This printing press was used by Jay “Ding” Darling, to print his engravings.  It is a Stereotype Plate Making Machine (a combination Wet and Dry Matrix Rolling Machine, No. 45C with Motor Equipment, patented in 1909 and manufactured by the Goss Printing Press Company.  The company began operations in 1891 and is still the leader in offset printing equipment.  This printing machine weighs 5000 pounds without the motor and 5600 pounds when equipped with one.  It is 5 feet wide and 4 feet 5 inches tall.  The machine was made to process etching plates.  Such plates were designed by casting the design on copper or metal plates; multiple plates (stereo) could be made in one setting.  The NCTC Archives has a number of the original copper plate etchings that Ding created. In the book “Ding: The Life of Jay Norwood Darling” by David L. Lendt, he notes that this press was at Peony Farm, west of Des Moines IA.  “The Darling workshop was well supplied with stacks of fine imported papers, copper plates, and scores of etching tools as well as Ding’s large print-making press.”

Ding made a number of etchings over the years, working on them as a hobby, but he never sold any of them. He considered himself a student of etchings and not a master, so he shared them as gifts to friends.  The single largest collection of 62 of his etchings were transferred to Iowa State University where they were originally put on permanent display, but are now exhibited on a rotating basis to preserve them from light damage. Among the etchings is the design for the first Duck Stamp.

Ding’s barber, Gordon Meany, became interested in etching and worked seriously at improving his skill.  Over time, Ding allowed him access to his supplies and the press and he became a skilled printer.  Collaborating with Robert Colflesh, a Des Moines attorney, the two eventually printed many of Ding’s etchings.

About Ding Darling

Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling was a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist who developed a national reputation drawing political cartoons, often with a conservation message. In a career that began in 1900 and lasted almost 50 years, he drew 15,000 cartoons.  One of his more famous drawings is that of the “Blue Goose,” the symbol of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

His work was first found in local Iowa papers, then the Des Moines Register and Leader, and finally the New York Globe from 1911-1913. In 1916, he signed a ten-year contract with the New York Herald Tribune syndicate, an association that eventually lasted for many years. He returned to Iowa in 1919 and made that his base of operations for the rest of his life.

In 1931, because of his focus on conservation, he was appointed to the first Iowa Fish and Game Commission. Although he was a life-long Republican, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Ding to a special presidential committee in 1934 that was charged with recommending a program for restoring wetland habitats that would lead to the conservation of migratory waterfowl. The committee’s recommendation was a “duck stamp” that would help fund conservation efforts to support habitat restoration by requiring sale to every waterfowl hunter.  Ding designed the first federal Duck Stamp. That program has raised over $1.2 billion since its inception and the annual design continues to be a competitive art contest each year. A Junior Duck Stamp Contest for youth ages 5-17 and which encourages teachers to include wetlands habitat and wildfowl conservation in their lesson plans, began in 1989.

Ding’s committee involvement led directly to him being asked, in 1934, to assume leadership of the US Biological Survey, the forerunner of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  As Director of the Biological Survey, Ding tightened restrictions on the length of waterfowl hunting seasons and the limits on the number of ducks allowed to be taken. He also convinced the Roosevelt administration to allow taxes on natural resources to be designated for habitat restoration projects (and the purchase of lands as wildlife reserves.) One of his projects as director was to transplant a small herd of musk-oxen from Lapland to Nunivek Island AK, where they were native, but had become extinct.  (The musk-oxen were not fond of visitors to the island.)

After resigning as Biological Survey director in 1936, Ding continued his devotion to wildlife conservation and helped found the National Wildlife Federation, becoming its first president. He designed the first of an annual series of wildlife stamps, offered for sale to the general public, to finance the federation’s activities.

After the end of the Second World War, Ding ended his cartooning career, but continued supporting conservation efforts at the federal level and internationally as well as in his native Iowa. He died in 1962.

In 1936-37, Ding and wife went “trailering” to Florida and settled on Captiva Island (Sanibel Island.) Their residence, The Fish House, became a favored escape for 20 years. The J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Captiva Island was dedicated in 1978. It’s 4306 acres supports a large assortment of birds.

Source: “Ding: The Life of Jay Norwood Darling” by David L. Lendt, Iowa State University Press, 1979, 1984, 1989.

Thank you to Betty, a volunteer at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Archives in West Virginia, and Brian Pflanz, Parts Research Supervisor at manroland Goss web systems Americas, for gathering the pieces in corresponding about this incredible story 114-years later!

About manroland Goss web systems

Recognized as the world-leading supplier of printing equipment and aftermarket solutions to graphic arts and other industrial manufacturers. We lead the way by developing technology and automation that empowers companies to maximize productivity, increase efficiency, and optimize quality. manroland Goss web systems is a premier printing press manufacturer.

Backed by deep engineering expertise, documentation, and the largest spare parts inventory in the industry, we are well-positioned to support your equipment with solutions that ensure you remain productive. Our team at manroland Goss web systems Americas is ready to support you with tailored solutions that meet your unique needs and exceed expectations.

manroland Goss boasts the Americas largest spare part inventory for printing, packaging, and bindery equipment.  We also support various industrial manufacturers, and we pride ourselves on the availability of the right part, when you need it, and at the right price.

All of our printing press parts are produced to meet or exceed OEM specifications.  As a result, they last longer than other third-party replicas, ensuring the highest operational performance, maximizing uptime, and saving you money.

In addition to printing press parts, we also have parts & components for printing press rebuilds, printing press repairs, and printing press upgrades.

You can also learn more about manroland Goss services, where we not only provide services for manroland Goss technology and products but for every brand in the printing industry. Or, find out more about our smart solutions, such as MAINTELLISENSE.

Contact us at 603-749-6600, or email us at service.americas@manrolandgoss.com.