Shop's Log, Stardate 2013

My shop is a small building in the back yard, and I find myself continually writing hurried notes and stuffing them into a pocket to either take to the shop, or bring into the house from the shop. It's time for another approach-- one which is not so prone to blowing away.

Since Three Toad Press is 25 years old as of December, 2013, I decided a Shop Log would be a good approach. In it, I can record what I worked on and what I need to do next, as well as add reminders about what things from the house need to go outside, and which things need to come back inside!

So here you have Three Toad Press's first Log Book. About time, after 25 years of printing!

Work Day. No Pic!

Busy afternoon in the shop today, even if no pic was taken.

1. Cut paper for "Water," a challenge for the Coast Letterpress Guild, newly formed in Central California. Set title for the piece and added leading to the first five lines. I will publish it in two sections of five lines each. Something about being out of sorts: short on e's and a's.

2. Set February 2013 APA piece, a poem and its title "How Do I Love Thee APA?"

3. Chose font possibilities for a mini poster challenge for APA, due in June. This will be 3.5x5," with a quote. Largest type size 24 pt. Can use fancy or plain type. I chose fonts appropriate for this poster:

- 16 Tuscan
- 18 & 24 Facade
- 18 Cicero (revival casting)
- 14 Bruce's Ornamented #1024
- 18 Radient No. 1
- 10 Victoria Italic (revival casting)
- 12 on 14 & 22 Corinthian (one a revival casting)
- 18 Trocadero (revival casting)
- 22 Roman (unknown foundry & name)
- 16 Renaissant
-   6 Engravers' Bold # 1, 2, or 3
- 12 Engravers' Bold
-   6 Garamond (for the fine print)

And in typing my list I realized that quite a few of these are the real deal! Twenty five years ago I despaired of ever even seeing a real nineteenth century font. But in the process of finding type from individual sellers, I have a few to play with now. It's a good feeling. They will get gentle use and good cleaning.

I hope to do a bang-up job on this mini poster. It pushes all my creative buttons.

Saddles

This weekend I picked up the roller saddles for my C&P from Jay Robison (who doesn't have a website) at his shop in Santa Clara.

Jay bored out the worn areas and filled them with bronze, then drilled new bearing surfaces for the rollers. He then made new fittings to hold the saddles in place. Formerly they were press fit. To remove them required drilling them out.

Now I can remove the roller saddles if I need to, and of course re-install them myself.

Jay makes custom remanufactured parts for antique autos and other things, including a replica of the Wright Flyer. Seriously. He's even done specialty machine work for BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). I was thrilled at his price: under $200 for this great refit pair.

Once they're installed I'll have to post again. First, I'll have to solve the other problems the C&P has, like below type-high rails and undersize trucks. All in a day's printing exercise, right?

But see the beauty of the remanufactured parts. Enjoy!

Resolutions for the Shop

Everybody needs a few resolutions. I decided my shop deserved some this year.

This case is double-laid, a larger size with a smaller one. I need to make sure all my type is neatly distributed and in good shape.

1. I want to print something for the APA Bundle every month of 2013. And mail it on time!

2. I want to take control of the mess in the shop, much of which is the result of buying out somebody else's mess a few years ago.

3. I want to work on my 1890 Pearl and get it up and running. I'm so close, but so far. Even disassembled, the thing is too heavy for me alone. I've found myself a helper, so I have hope for this year.

4. I need to winnow the type collection. Unless it's an antique survivor, there's simply no point in keeping a beat up font. Better to donate it to the Printing Museum and let them melt it down and make new type.

And today, the first of January, I made progress on some of the above! I consolodated Pearl parts (#3) and got rid of the big unwieldy box they were in; sorted type in a rusted galley(#2); and last week I printed two bundle pieces, so I'm a month ahead. I have til Friday to mail them.

Best wishes to all for a happy and productive New Year!