Can't resist

A printers "hellbox" is where old type goes to die. Thrown into a convenient receptacle because it's worn or damaged, hellbox type finds new life only by being traded to the typefounder, who melts it down to make brand new type.

After the Wayzgoose in Phoenix, we traveled to Skyline Type Foundry in Prescott. I had a reasonably full hellbox to trade in-- but this pic shows the granddaddy hellbox of them all. It's from the International Printing Museum, where I volunteer once a month.

Even after the feeding frenzy of the Goose, and our new purchases at Sky's, could any of us resist pawing through it? Might there be good sorts? There were a few still-wrapped fonts in there!

Thanks to Tom Parsons for this shot.

More Victorian

 Biggify to truly enjoy this great old design!

 Purchased from Dave Peat, well-known collector: Bruce's Ornamented No. 1515, known as Belgian (despite the label!). I found out that Dave Peat had purchased Paul Hayden Duensing's cutting of 24 Belgian, and Bob Magill of Monumental Type Foundry cast them. Duensing himself wasn't pleased with it, and cast only a few sorts before selling the mats to Peat. I don't know how many fonts Monumental produced: Dave had two at the Wayzgoose, and I bought one.

The Bruce Company itself was in business for most of the 19th century. Their designer Julius Herriet Sr. is given credit for the lowercase in 1867, two years after its initial use as a titling font. Thanks for Dr. David MacMillan for fuller information.

Victorian Dreams

When I began letterpress printing 26 years ago, very few fonts were available to me, and none at all which captured the exuberance and style of the Victorian era I so love. Fast forward to the revival of revival type foundries-- and my prayers are answered. Skyline Type Foundry has reproduced some decorative fonts long unavailable for purchase, including one of my favorites, Arboret. To get a better view of this beauty, please double click to biggify. You won't be sorry!

PS Not the best pic, but still!  :)

The friendly proprietor and me

By the Sea

Even though I love beachwalking, I get busy and forget to go. Visited a kite store in Ventura Harbor after the Anacapa trip, and got a brainstorm. If I had a kite I could easily fly, it would induce me to go to the beach!

And so it did. I bought a deltaflow, one of the easiest to fly, thanks to the advice of the owner. Went to the beach today, and wow, is it ever easy.

The slough has blocked its own mouth, as it often does in the winter, so I could walk further than usual. A low tide helped me get around two points further. All that way I walked my kite.

On the way back to the pier, I was walking away from the wind and several times the kite tried to land as I walked. But I persisted, and so did the wind. Past the pier to the end of Goleta beach I walked. Low tide still was out, and I could get around the point to University beach, so I did that too.

I walked to University point and decided to turn it around there. Total walked 4 - 5 miles. Air inhaled, who knows but it was wonderful. Seaweed float bladders popped, too many to count.

And I'm rich in sand dollars! Even though they are fairly rare on this beach, I picked up 23 today!

I think I'd rather walk my kite than a dog. No pooperscoopering; it won't bite; and it heels perfectly. I forgot to mention how pretty it is!

A Stellar's Sea Lion on Anacapa Island

We saw part of the back of Anacapa Island on the trip back to port. We traveled around the famous arch:

 And even closer to the Arch on our way around it:

To the far side of the island, where we observed some seals and one lone Stellar Sea Lion lounging on the rocks. He was huge: the captain said probably around 800 pounds. More than my Pearl press! Stellars are known for being shy, and this one was no exception.

 As we passed by, he lumbered to the water's edge.

 With an 800 pound splash, he was gone.

 I could see his head above the water as he swam away.

To see him well, double click on the pics to biggify them!

Further afield

Took a nice boat trip to Anacapa Island yesterday. That makes two Islands for me. I'd like to be able to go to each one, just to say I did.

DO biggify this one. I'm proud of it.

But here is a pic of a Giant Coreopsis and, err, passenger. It is mating season among the Western Gulls and they were all over the island, staking out territory and defending it from others.  They seem to love to sit atop the flower clusters of the Coreopsis.

It was a lovely day of exploring the small island, enjoying its plants and observing the many nesting gulls and brown pelicans. I found out it's the largest pelican breeding ground on this coast!

Territorial argument

 Paired up

 

Too Much of a Good Thing

I have a challenge to meet for my Amalgamated Printers Association (APA) June bundle: a mini-poster to compose and set. Guidelines are 3.5 x 5" size, no font over 24 pt, and the rest is up to me.

I searched both shops for my little bust with the Phrenology map on it, but that cut cannot be found. I decided to rely on words and typefaces, in the manner of a 19th century poster or title page, changing styles every line to show off the type.

It's now set, using a combination of revival castings and actual antique fonts, and I'm happy with it. Minor detail: the type as it sits measures five inches! There's no room for top and bottom margins. Aargh.

The job is lurking on the stone awaiting my further attentions. Something surely has got to give!

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!

For the Win!

It's November. No kidding.

Once again, for the fourth November in a row, I have participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and WON.

Despite the hazards of the game -- duties, company, errands, other projects, and journeys-- I stuck to it and produced wordage. 50,000 more than I would have written without the spur of this annual event.

This year it is more of an accomplishment. I bogged down in the middle of a sequel, and switched to my historical novel of last year. I tacked that on to the document already underway and kept writing. Net effect is 50,000 words, but they are destined to be edited into two other novels. I struggled with each story line, but by judicious application of buns to chair and fingers to keys, I finished.

Whew.

Now I can enjoy the coming season. There are no classes to distract me, and I won't be editing my novel until after Christmas. I'm working on getting my press (the C&P this time) repaired, ordering the wood parts for my dad's Model T, and catching up on sewing projects.

Guess I'd better print some Christmas cards too. This year, on the Vandercook!

By the Numbers

I bought these on eBay. They'll come in handy some time. They're about 5-line numerals. The seller, though not a printer, had "celtic" in the image title. She may be right. I'm posting them for a cross-check with other printers, so leave a comment if Celtic isn't the correct name.

Printers, Printing

Helping the Guild with the Book Arts Jam in Palo Alto netted me some nice cuts (mounted printing plates) of printers doing their jobs. I print bookplates for our collaborative book each year, and these will give me some nice design elements for several more years.

To see these well, you have to double-click on them to biggify!

A King who prints? Is he the King of 

Hearts, Spades, or --?

Two different eras of printing. Renaissance and Revolution. 

Both in great condition.

TYPE. . . and a slightly off-scale composing stick crossed with a sort of type.

Another pair of printers and a common press, a tiny printer in an interesting frame, and a small barrel which has nothing to do with printing.

Sorry for this being out-of-focus!

Printer on the left running a New Style platen press; comic printer on the right holding ink balls.

 And the surprise-- a cast type metal, two-color image of two printers: One inking the press in the foreground, and the other at the case in the background.

Finally, a 19th century printer standing at the case. Great design. This one may be my favorite, but all will do nicely for our bookplate page.

The best part is that the seller was letting these go very cheaply, just to find them a good home. I bought them and several other nice ornaments with some paper. They will all be used and appreciated!

More Typographic Excess

The Los Angeles Printers' Faire was last Saturday, and of course, having more guts than brains, I committed typographic excess again. I couldn't help myself. John Barrett of Letterpress Things brought treasure.

My first purchase in the morning was the wrapped font, below. It is, I believe, the 2nd most common font used on late Victorian calling (social) cards. I haven't identified either of the others, but they are below for your pleasure. Double click to see them in all their glory.

Somebody titled this, but it isn't correct! Johnson Foundry.

Now id'd as Text Ornate thanks to Steve Saxe.

 

I purchased the second and third at the end of the day, 

when I knew I had some cash left over! Purty swashes 

and ringlets in the second; which a friend just id'd as 

Renaissant (Dickinson Foundry, 1879!). And just look 

at the extravagant serifs on the third. Although it has 

a Berhnard Bros & Spindler pinmark, I could not 

find it in their 1907 catalog- the only one I have.

Diagnosed! C&P Roller issues

Now we know. My friend Dave was visiting and we ran the C&P rollers up and down to see if we could determine the source of the right side roller's odd behavior. On its travel north from the rails to the ink disk, it was rising alarmingly while jumping around-- not expected behavior to say the least.

It turns out that the roller saddles on both sides are worn. This isn't a surprise for a platen press, but the right side saddles are worn more than the left. One has wear in an eccentric pattern and the other is worn too wide. A problem with roller size compounds the issue and the rollers actually touch each other on that side as they rise. When they do, the lower roller jumps off the ink disk and shimmys around.

 

Even though the left side saddle is closer in this shot, you

can still see the abnormal wear on the right side saddle

across the ink disk, behind it. It's much thinner.

 The saddles should always hold the rollers parallel to one another, as here.

 In this shot, the rollers are traveling up the disk and are touching on the right side!

Friction damage to the lower roller in the dual saddle.

After all this, my next project is to either find replacement roller saddles or have some made. I can only hope for a parts press to pop up. Having them made will be expensive. Poor C&P. I'm already missing her.

Signs of the Times

Bookbinding workshop is starting again. Most of my friends have dropped out due to the steep price increase, a sadness. However, a whole new crop of students will be using our equipment, so I took it upon myself to proof a bunch of safety placards.

The class has little safety training, but we use a manual paper trimmer,  a guillotine cutter, and cases full of type-- all without regular reminders of safe handling.  They are not printers, they are beginning bookbinders, so they don't even learn to set type into a composing stick, much less safe equipment use. I'm related to My Dad the Safety Nut, and it drives me crazy to see the students ignorantly handling things that could hurt them. Hence the placards.

I can't believe how many leave the trimmer blade up and just walk away.

Then there are those who lay their stuff on the guillotine cutter. . .

Font

Just a proof for you to look at, hoping for responses in re: my question about background letters.

It's a not-so-great shot of an iffy proof :)  Hope it conveys my intent.

Toolbox again

Just an excuse to post. My inking woes are solved. The rollers needed to be adjusted downward. That done, and inking was perfect. Before the adjustement, I had completed Tool #2 in the set, but there's no pic.

Tool #3 is half done! Color one went on press today, and I'm excited about the inking now. This tool, and its associated cut, is one of my favorites, because I use it every time I print.

Color two will be red: a smaller composing stick showing type lined up in it, and a drop cap H for the legend in Washington Text. Click to biggify-- I'm quite happy with it!

The height of irony: a problem with the camera's parallax makes the printing look UN straight!

Toolbox

Here is the first of my tool contributions for the Toolbox. The uneven look of the type is its rugged design: Pabst Oldstyle. Kids' art foam sheet mounted on a mag base printed the saw. Apologies that the cell phone shot doesn't display the Lettra paper effect.