One of the really great things about owning the Seybold Report is hearing from people who knew the Report and the Seybolds from way back when. Recently, I got this e-mail out of the blue from one such person:
"Not sure if we have corresponded before or not. However, having fairly recently driven in the Philadelphia area and knowing of a grand-daughter's interest in such schools as Haverford, I can't suppress fond memories of days of yore with the Graphics Computer Composition Association of the PIA and people like John Seybold and his son Jonathan. Retired from the industry in 1989, I don't stay very current, but sure remember printing the Seybold Report in its first year or maybe the second as I suspect John labored to get it produced with help from PIA for year one. We contributed one year while I was a section president of PIA.
My firm after 31 years was called Colwell Systems, Inc., a name I gave it to reflect on our changes that led to pioneering computerized typesetting for 10,000 individual imprint orders per week! Many involved integrating variable input with form standing matter and others were pretty custom. We migrated from mag tape setters to Photon paper tape light through spinning disk and lens to get the right size in the right place back in 1964-71. Finally got to an Autologic CRT to get full plates until it moved onto direct image on the press. That technology took us from $500,000 to $50 million per year and showed that we had become the industry leader serving medical, dental and other professionals in need of imprinted forms and other stationery items.
Any news of the Seybolds will be read with interest."
Regards,
Dick Tryon now in Humacao, Puerto Rico
Dick and I corresponded a bit, and I sent his e-mail on to Jonathan Seybold, who was happy to read it. Jonathan tells me Dick used to print the newsletters way back when, too.
Did you know that the name Seybold Publications is still on the old office building in Media, PA? No, I didn't buy the building as part of the deal to acquire the Seybold Report. The building was sold several owners ago.
It is good to be part of such a group. The work goes on.
If you have a fond memory of the Seybolds or of anything related to Seybold Publications, I would like to hear from you.
