No Buster Due To Industrial Action

[bustercomic]

Hiya,

Got a very nice haul this afternoon of Buster's from the early 70s, and am beginning to piece together some of my gaps.

One of them is the industrial action of 1974. Both my site, and Comicsuk talk about Buster being out from it's second Cor!! issue through to 3rd August 1974.

Within my collection I have an issue dated 3rd August 1974, but it mentions nothing about having been away from 4 weeks. Would this have been right? Or are the dates a little wrong?

Also, anyone know why issues from 1970 are 2 weeks as one? 18th & 25th April mention circumstances beyond our control whilst 6th & 13th July says nothing.

Ta in advance

Matt

[Lew Stringer]

Also, anyone know why issues from 1970 are 2 weeks as one? 18th & 25th April mention circumstances beyond our control whilst 6th & 13th July says nothing.

Again due to industrial action I think. A few other IPC comics were also affected, such as Smash! and had two week's combined dates on the cover.

Lew

[klakadak-ploobadoof]

Buster Index 1960 - 1995 by Ray Moore and Steve Holland says: no issues: 1970: 21 Nov - 26 Dec, 1971: 2 Jan - 30 Jan, 1974: 19 Jan, 2 Feb, 1 Feb, 2 March, 16 March, 30 March, 6 Jul-27 Jul, 1975: 24 May-31May, 1980: 19 Jan-9 Feb.

[Kashgar]

Cataloguing the missing issues was one of my tasks when we were compiling the Buster Index as it was my collection we were using for reference and, although it was done many moons ago, I'd still stand by the list as printed above. Which titles missed issues was entirely a matter of who they were printed by of course as IPC used a number of printers at the time, some of whom were involved in strike action and some who weren't. For instance in the long strike from Nov 1969 to Feb 1971 Buster failed to appear as did Smash, Lion, Valiant and Sally etc but other titles like Whizzer & Chips and Cor were unaffected.

[bustercomic]

Cataloguing the missing issues was one of my tasks when we were compiling the Buster Index as it was my collection we were using for reference and, although it was done many moons ago, I'd still stand by the list as printed above. Which titles missed issues was entirely a matter of who they were printed by of course as IPC used a number of printers at the time, some of whom were involved in strike action and some who weren't. For instance in the long strike from Nov 1969 to Feb 1971 Buster failed to appear as did Smash, Lion, Valiant and Sally etc but other titles like Whizzer & Chips and Cor were unaffected.

Bet that was a task and half!!!!

So I'm guessing by those dates klak posted, the first issue back from the 4 weeks in 1971 would be that 3rd August issue I've got. (apologies for the questions, but I'm 200 odd miles away from my own comic index!!!!!)

Interesting nothing was mentioned in the comic though....

[Captain Storm]

Kashgar wrote:

IPC used a number of printers at the time, some of whom were involved in strike action and some who weren't.

This is fascinating Kashgar!And perhaps unknown to many! I thought the industrial action would result in all titles being affected.So now we know certain printers were not on strike.I take it though that the only thing affected re the various titles is continuity in terms of weekly circulation,i.e. numbering/dating.Thanks for the info.This would clear up many anomalies in the archive.In fact,a checklist of strikes by printers would be invaluable to collectors.

The Cap.

[Raven]

Did they sometimes swap printers when strikes happened? I recall my weekly Whizzer and Chips coming out on superior paper with lovely vibrant colours for a couple of weeks, then being quite disappointed when it returned to the usual cheapo stock.

Valiant also came out on superior paper (again, great colour reproduction) for a few weeks in 1970.

[grumpy old man]

I’m not sure about this theory regarding changing printers. I’ve a Lion dated 1/8/70 which is a slightly smaller size and printed on superior paper to the previous weeks but there are no strikes listed for 1970

[Raven]

I’m not sure about this theory regarding changing printers. I’ve a Lion dated 1/8/70 which is a slightly smaller size and printed on superior paper to the previous weeks but there are no strikes listed for 1970

The superior paper Valiants are July/August 1970.

[Kashgar]

There was industrial action involving IPC printers in mid 1970. From memory I think there were two combined issues published in the summer i.e. two issues double dated to cover a missing week. As I recall it was IPC's own printing plant Fleetway who had the strike problems. Comics printed outside the company like the web-offset Tiger etc were unaffected.

[Kashgar]

I've checked and as far as Buster was concerned, apart from its usual home printer Fleetway, IPC employed the services of three other printers in the summer of 1970 to try and avoid interruption in production. They were Lancashire Colour Printers of Warrington for the issues dated 27/6, 11/7 and 18/7, Allens Printers (Wales) 4/7 and C.J. Masan Bristol 25/7. I haven't checked Lion, Valiant and Smash for the same period but the noticed changes in paper stock etc would seem to indicate that similar chopping and changing between printing companies took place.

[Raven]

I think the lovely-papered Whizzer and Chipses were a few years after 1970.

[Lew Stringer]

I've checked and as far as Buster was concerned, apart from its usual home printer Fleetway, IPC employed the services of three other printers in the summer of 1970 to try and avoid interruption in production. They were Lancashire Colour Printers of Warrington for the issues dated 27/6, 11/7 and 18/7, Allens Printers (Wales) 4/7 and C.J. Masan Bristol 25/7. I haven't checked Lion, Valiant and Smash for the same period but the noticed changes in paper stock etc would seem to indicate that similar chopping and changing between printing companies took place.

That reminds me of the time Odhams told the readers of Wham, Smash, and Pow that they needed to find a new printer. (Not due to strikes, but for other reasons.) The editors sounded desperate. It was quite a strange thing to share with young readers but it was that friendliness that made "Power Comics" so appealing. They did of course find a new printer although the print quality did suffer a little until the new printer became accustomed to their needs. (Those dark blues they used instead of black suddenly became bright blue for a few weeks.)

Lew

[Raven]

That reminds me of the time Odhams told the readers of Wham, Smash, and Pow that they needed to find a new printer. (Not due to strikes, but for other reasons.) The editors sounded desperate. It was quite a strange thing to share with young readers but it was that friendliness that made "Power Comics" so appealing.
Lew

It was nice when the comic people would respect kids enough to do that kind of thing. I remember Marvel UK editorial chat being honest about comics merging due to low sales rather than it being 'exciting news!' that they were joining up, and I think you did appreciate it as a reader.

[steelclaw]

Did all the Buster & Jets come out in 1974, or did they stop the same as Lion & Thunder?