In the early 70's I was enrolled in a local technical college in the "printing" course. We used a camera similar to this to shoot layouts which were imaged to large sheets of litho film (b/w) which we would develop.

Color photographs were shot with an overlay of transparent dot grids one at a time, which would collect the 4 colors present, and these were used to create the 4 individual plates to burn to print plates.

Quite a process, but very interesting for a young guy who always wondered just how do these pictures get printed.

All lighting in this darkroom was under a red lamp. Even a small spark would expose the raw litho film.

Lost technologies.

Typesetters, lithographers, and so on, and all their supporting trades and professions, too. Like typecasters. Or the folks who quarried the very specific quality of limestone required by the lithographers.

Machinery as well. Linotype, anybody?

Where's the camera? At the far end of the rails?

[The entire giant apparatus is the camera. - Dave]

Neighbor next door had a print shop. The smell of Developer, Stop and Fix is something that never leaves your memory.