The day the City Times ‘caught on’
Then came the discovery that the concrete floor was not strong enough to carry five tons of concentrated printing plant.
From the files of the Benoni City Times of September 17, 1921, comes this account of the birth of the newspaper.
“We have concluded that the production of a fresh newspaper is a much-underrated task,” William Hills, founder of the newspaper, wrote.
“It was intended at first that the Benoni City Times and Benoni Volksblad should appear about the middle of August, 1921, and thanks to the good offices of the SAIF, who vacated their premises on the corner of Rothsay Street and Bedford Avenue to let us in, and to Mr WA Hills, who agreed to the change, matters looked hopeful.
“But when our big printing machine arrived, troubles commenced.
“The cylinder was so heavy that it remained outside all night but was hauled in within the next day.
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“Then came the task of erecting by Mr McCormick and the discovery that the concrete floor was not strong enough to carry five tons of concentrated printing plant.
“Hence, recourse to Mr du Toit, who left his job of putting the finishing touches to the Dutch Reformed Church to superintend the placing in position of concrete pillars.
“A motor had to be secured to suit Benoni’s peculiar voltage, and this Mr Morgan supplied, while Mr Sutcliffe, the town electrical engineer, saw that the meter was placed in position and power laid on in a remarkably short space of time.
“But to get the power applied to the machine taxed the ingenuity of all and we had to conclude that September 10 instead of September 3 must be our opening date.
“Mr Rephan laid on electric light while we were printing the first sheets of the paper.
“It may be placed on record that those concerned in the production of the first number from a mechanical standpoint were Messrs Burcher, Grieve, Hunt, Jooste, van der Merwe (compositors), Mr Norgate (machinist) and Mr Deane.
“The postmaster and telephone chief also deserve hearty thanks for their ready help and very prompt way in which our ‘phone was installed’.
“Five minutes after the hour, the lads of the City Times brigade dashed out of the works bearing bundles of the new journal.
“It was evident that there was a big demand.
“Before the last boys were served, the first lads were back again, and it went on until we had to close the doors.
“The City Times had caught on.”
Source: BCT Golden Jubilee Supplement February 1956. Retyped: Glynis Cox Millett-Clay, November 2019.
