Letterpress typemetal cracked#

This press proved to be wonderful, capable of producing high quality book work. The search for a bigger press commenced and in 1988 I bought a FAG Swissproof SP40 cylinder precision proofing press. I knew that the Adanas would not be suited. Time came when I wanted to print my first private press book. Unfortunately I never got to grips with this press, the Adanas were always so much easier to use. This press has an internal chase size of 11” x 7¾”, and is a lovely looking little press. I replaced the Model 4 with a Titan Treadle Press, made by E. Indeed the Adanas came to my rescue on many an occasion. The press however proved to be disappointing and more time was wasted on reprinting than on enjoying having a bigger chase.

Letterpress typemetal cracked#

Eventually, after a false start with a cracked treadle platen, I bought a Model no.

So off I went in search of something bigger. Whilst the Adanas 5x3 and 8x5 served me very well, they never really satisfied me. The Adana catalogue became more familiar than any of my school text books! Always busy with its display of new presses on show and little brown paper packets of type on shelves behind the counter. Within a year I had bought an Adana 8x5 and made regular weekend visits to the Adana shop in Church Street, Twickenham, spending my pocket money on small card founts, paper and tubes of ink. I regularly printed letterheads, business cards, dance tickets, dinner menus, etc.Īlthough I started with an Adana 5x3 I always hankered for a bigger chase size. I soon became known at school for having a printing press and all manner of requests came to me. I had my first proper printing press and a small range of jobbing type. I cradled it on the way home and slept content that night. My father encouraged my interest and on my sixteenth birthday took me to see an Adana 5x3 advertised in the Exchange & Mart. To this day I have disliked Times New Roman, was this due to my abuse of that delicate type. This simple cylinder press was my first experience of letterpress printing, with each letter of my first fount of 10pt Times New Roman poorly inked and deeply impressed into oddments of paper found around the house. How I longed to have my own printing press!Īt first I constructed my own press, a simple wooden box measuring 6” x 3” with a tympan of cloth and my mother’s rolling pin for the impression. My local library was a favourite stop on the way home from school, and by chance had a copy of what was to become an almost daily read. As a fifteen year old I was captivated by John Ryder’s, Printing for Pleasure. Letterpress has been a consuming passion of mine ever since my school days in the mid 1970’s. In the meantime keep in touch by emailing a consuming passion. We now know what to cast when we next fire up the Monotype Super Caster in a few weeks time.Īs soon as time permits, and once we catch our breath, we will up-date this site with exciting news about what we intend casting in the coming months.

These all seemed to go down well, and indeed we quickly sold out of many items, especially 18pt by 36pt fists which left our stand as soon as we replenished our meagre stocks.

As those of you who came to the event will have seen we had a modest range of newly cast Monotype ornaments available from 12pt to 36pt.

We really appreciate the support you gave us and for the enthusiasm shown towards our new type casting venture. We were delighted to see many of our old friends as well as the opportunity to make new friends. Wow, what an event! Jean and I wish to thank everyone who came and visited our stand at the 2011 Oxford Fine Press Fair held on Saturday 5th November and Sunday 6th November.