Press Arrives Its Destination (Safely)

When it comes to moving things - my friend Jerry is the best choice. He's a good thinker, good risk assessor, still has most of his limbs and most importantly  - he usually says yes when I ask for help.

We started Saturday morning with pancakes at my house, then drove our Ryder truck with the 2,000 lb lift gate over to LarkPress to pick up 'Red'. I won't go into the all the details of trying to get a 1,050 lb object onto the lift gate (which had, in my judgement, a bit too steep a transition incline). Suffice it to say - there were some challenges and we would probably still be there 'shuving' without the welcome assistance of a commercial painter (read 'angel') who was working on the building next door.

Our litte red press is a Chandler & Price 8 x 12 - also affectionately known in the trade as a C&P 8 x 12.  One of the bonuses of a new craft (not sure where craft leaves off and technology begins) is that you get to acquire a whole new vocabulary. While I'm working on repairing or replacing the 1/4 hp variable speed motor, I also need to order some trucks (that go on either side of the inking rollers), some tympan parchment, a handful of guage pins, two qouins and qouin key to secure the bed to the chase. And like that.

Chandler & Price 8 x 12 (safely in its new home)

Toad's Wild Ride

I feel a bit like Toadie in the Wind in the Willows when he embarks on his 'automobile' fascination. At Kathy's urging (let's get that out in the open right now) I went searching, fairly casually, for a letterpress and found it (providence in action) at LarkPress on N. Williams Avenue.  Shop owner Jean Sammis had this press and two others and was willing (maybe happily) to let it go to a good home. The press basically looks like this. It's serial number indicates that its date of manufacture was 1905. I love things whose service is measured in centuries rather than years (or months)!A very reasonable question is "what are you going to do with the press Mike?" Future posts will touch on that deep question. For now I'm going to put it in my garage and attempt to get it running. I've rented a truck with lift gate to pick this little gem up from Jean on Saturday morning. It weighs in at 1,050 lbs - so dead-lifting it was out of the question - though my men's group was probably up for the challenge.

I invite you to follow along on this little letterpress journey - and experience with me the joys and maybe the occasional tribulation as I learn how to provision and operate a letterpress. Stay tuned ...