Card Production Process

[deweyinthehall]

Does anyone know of a source that can provide a step-by-step overview of the process involved in producing the typical Topps sports card set for laymen like myself?

I'm talking about something which would be applicable at least for the 60s and 70s, everything from snapping the photo in spring training to packing the boxes into cases?

There's a lot of snippets to be caught on these pages but the overall process, beginning to end, remains something of a mystery - design, layout, printing, proofing, cutting, etc., etc., etc.

[quitcrab]

This video will take you inside the Topps factory 1967. Cool to see the cards being loaded into the wrappers and down the assembly line.

https://youtu.be/lfvCFFBnWic

If link doesn’t work go to YouTube and search: Topps chewing gum hidden treasure

[deweyinthehall]

Thanks - I had seen this.

Oh, the humanity! '67 hi numbers, fresh from the pack, being flipped on a sidewalk! Bill Henry, Woody Woodward, Don Cardwell, Donn Clendenon, and so many more...If I had seen a Seaver or Carew I may have spit my coffee at my monitor!

[Elberson]

Really cool video and since I’m working on 67 now, love that the kid is wearing a Phillies cap ( I’m a fan) it has a little special place for me lol…….coming for you final card mr Carew

[deweyinthehall]

I'm down to 18 cards to go - Carew among them. All highs except the 7th checklist (which is really both a semi AND a high in terms of where it was printed). Since I'm working on a master set, the variations on the 7th checklist in particular are maddening.

[steve B]

Topps overall process is a lot more complex than probably most places.

The place I worked at did very little proofing. in some cases, not much more than a photo type print of the final item. In a few, none at all.
But a lot of customers provided their own camera ready art.