Authentic BJ coffee table

BJ coffee with glass top at left is supported (right) by press plates

This BJ coffee table in the basement family room of Roger and Anne Mezger has a base made of curved stereotype plates from 1976. They were among the last plates used in printing the Beacon Journal in those days when the newspaper was printed from curved plates cast from mats in the BJ composing room. Roger saved these to fashion this authentic BJ coffee table. The press plates weigh about 40 pounds each. One is from October 7, 1976 with the headline reading “Polls on debate show Carter outtalked Ford.” The other is from October 12, 1976 and the top headline says “Mao widow held with 3 radicals”–the infamous Gang of 4. The glass top is 24 inches in diameter. Roger says, “Over the years I have added decals that came in the mail from some of my alma maters and my favorite baseball team.”
(Photos by Roger Mezger)