Box printing error?

[SuperFast]

Hello all,
some weeks ago I found this interesting B-Box of the 09B Fire Engine.
It's missing one red wing on one side. How often can this be found?

09B_DennisFireEngine.jpg (362.51 KiB) Viewed 4125 times

SF

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Very interesting error.

If these boxes were printed by the 'Screen Print' method (most used method in industry before 'Tampo Printing'), for that side of the double wing section (actually a representation of some clouds, not wings), the screen would have to be blanked out or blocked, therefore preventing the ink to pass through the screen onto the card. To blank out just one side it would have to have been covered by some sticky tape, so perhaps a quick repair was needed during a print run and the operator has accidentally covered that area. If the tape is on the underside to the operater he or she would not notice it until the screen it taken out of the machine for washing.

This type of error is quite common from this period where basic printing methods were used for mass production printing of the packaging for toy companys of this period.

Ghosthunter.

[Idris]

Very interesting error.

If these boxes were printed by the 'Screen Print' method...

...or was it offset litho?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Yes indeed it could be, sadly the printing department I was in charge of only did screen printing so can not comment on litho, but imagine something similar to tape could be blocking the ink from being transfered.

Ghosthunter.

[SuperFast]

Yes, it seems to be the red things are clouds and thanks for the explanation about the printing work flow.
SF

[Idris]

I have a vague recollection of having seen something very similar before. On Lefora perhaps?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I have a vague recollection of having seen something very similar before. On Lefora perhaps?

Just popped in there to have a look and found 3 posts on the single page about some box printing errors which are similar to the above from ''superfast''.

What it not revealed is the printing method used which would have been handy knowing for our current discussion.

Ghosthunter.

[Idris]

Whatever the printing method used, it is extremely difficult to see such an omission occurring by accident. It must therefore have been deliberate, but as to why....

[GHOSTHUNTER]

If printing errors are just down to smudging or damaged edges to images or text this would indicate debrit has become involved right at the start of ink transference and would result in a strangely printed letter or undefined edge of an image, but to have a whole area such as that left side cloud image really is odd as you would expect both cloud images to be on the same drum or screen and only on seperate drums or screens if an alternative colour is used for one of the cloud images...a really unusual error Sven has found!

Ghosthunter.