Baltimorean: it's a press, not a place

So a couple of years ago I purchased this little press, sight unseen. I trust the friend who had it. But things are busy, and I didn't get around to ordering up new rollers, which it needed. They usually do. A few weeks ago I ordered my rollers, trucks, and cores (the bar the roller is cast on) from Tarheel Roller. They came this week, and I made the decision to print the very last job this press ever printed.

The press is a Baltimorean No. 2, which it proclaims in the platen casting. Proabably made before 1890, it was once highly decorated, with gold pinstriping. The cast scrollwork front and back was gilt, too. What matters is how well it prints, and that is nicely indeed. Some photos will do right here. As always, click to biggify any of them:

Baltimorean inked for printing

 

Baltimorean's last printing job before moving to California

Baltimorean's first job for Three Toad and APA- you can see the

type on the left; the rollers; and the printed card on the platen.

I'm sure you can imagine how pleased I am with this new toy. It is bigger than the little "Chicago" No. 9 I have, and much better made. I suspect that this press will be with me a long, long time. It is the perfect retirement-size press: big enough to print many sorts of things but small enough to move easily to a bookshelf location. I'd have to limit my type selection, but this would be an admirable solution.

I am not planning on downsizing any time soon, though. I just got the Vandercook and haven't had the 10x15 C&P very long. Those are big presses, so I don't plan on moving with them on hand!

Happy November First. Amazing how the year has whizzed by. In case I don't get to it later, I'll wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, too. I am very grateful for a wonderful milestone year.

Books 5 & 6 Make a Pair

Someday, when my baby grandchildren are old enough to enjoy books, they will each have a miniature book made by Grandma. These two are bound in the traditional manner by being sewn, backed, and cased in as are bigger casebound books. They are covered in origami paper; the flyleaves are marbled in the European tradition. How appropriate for these precious babies: they are of both Japanese and European ancestry.

These books have no text yet. Grandma is still considering whether to write the stories herself, or write stories the children tell her as they grow up!

Not really a Wart, but it could become one. Travel.

Another Evil Habit. I love going places. Back when I was first married I'd jump right up from anywhere if my husband even suggested going to the dump! Alas, no traveler he, but I do like exploring odd places. And other wonders.

So last weekend was a good one. I went to a hobby printers' convention known as a Wayzegoose, in Oklahoma City. There were fun places to explore, mostly printing related. A historical business in the old state capitol, Guthrie, nearly brought us to our knees... it is a full working printing shop housed in its original building. There are rows of presses and linotypes just standing there as if the printers would be back any minute. The machines have been there for almost 100 years! The other printers and I (the hobby printers, remember?) just drooled at seeing so much of a "real" shop left in the world.

The pinup wall was amazing. The latest girl must have been 20 in about 1923, and she was fully clothed. So were the earlier ones... a calendar girl from 1903, and others in fancy ballgowns and the like. I tried photographing the wall, but it is protected with a shiny plastic that's hard to shoot through.

The entire exhibit felt as if you could almost still hear the clatter of the brass matrices falling inside the Linotypes; the clank of the ink disks on the presses, and the hum of the drive belts.

The organization sponsoring the Wayzegoose was the Amalgamated Printers Association, of which I am a member. We print for one another and exchange our work. I get a pile of inspiration from my fellow printers. We had a swap meet Saturday morning, with lots of equipment, books, type and cuts exchanging hands. An auction followed. This time I was not a lucky bidder, but listening to the two auctioneers was entertaining.

The high point of my weekend was buying many elements of a 19th century border called "Egyptian." I have admired it for years but never thought I would be able to obtain any. It is a border that is pieced together like a puzzle, element by element, and it requires some skill to assemble. I feel as if it will be a test of my printing abilities.

But travel is my theme here.... and after the Wayzegoose I drove to Kansas to visit my grandmother's childhood home. I had only a day and a half, but managed to find family graves, see the home, look at land records, buy some quilting fabric, and have a lovely time. Small Town Kansas is charming, and I am glad to have been able to go.

I am certainly glad to get back to my Purring Teddy Bear, Miss Flora. Coming home is an essential part of travel!