There's Lovely

An interesting foray into Wales yesterday, 6am start, best part of an hour battling through Birmingham on the M6. Met Wyn Rogers the owner of Rogers and Co printers. Wyn's father started the press after being demobbed out of the RAF at the end of WW2. Wyn entered the business in the early 60s and finally closed down about 8 years ago. All is still there as Wyn was renting out the property and had no need to move out!

I managed to buy some nice wood type and a small proof press which will all be available after a good cleaning and sort out.

Long time no talk

Been exceptionally busy as usual, we have collected several new projects and have completed a star wheel etching press which went via Ebay.

Collected an 1849 Columbian from Tatlers Printers in Derby which went to a new home near Cirencester. Joe, the new owner was very pleased with his new acquisition.

Today brought a start to tidying up the state I have let the workshop get into, including a trip to the tip.

I went back to Abbot Hall and was pleased to get good prints from their Harrild Columbian press which I reinstated a few weeks ago.

The press felt nice and tight and provided good blacks from the line-block I used to test with.

Off back on the road tomorrow gathering more goodies to sell I hope!

Cheltenham and then Belgium

The University of Gloucestershire at Cheltenham took delivery of a nice A2 sized Farley self-inking proof press. Giles and I then went to Antwerp for 4 days to deliver an Albion and then help Patrick sort out his recently acquired extension to house his huge collection of presses and typecasting equipment. We achieved a lot and cycled to and from the warehouse every day which is a great form of unwinding after a long hard day. Patrick asked us to accompany him to Voorburg near the Hague on the Saturday to collect a load of equipment from the Die Hague Press which is closing down after being run since 1927. There was much equipment there which Henk the owner donated to Patrick's not inconsiderable collection. We shifted two imposing surfaces, a large pallet of Monotype spares, a pallet of Monotype keybanks, a very large nipping press on a stand, an intertype magazine rack, a swedish reciprocating proof press and many small items. We also removed two Monotype keyboards, palletised and got the Monotype composition caster ready for a return trip. Henk was finding it hard to part with things but I am sure more will find its way to Antwerp! There was also a magnificent large M A N stop cylinder with feeder, a Nebiolo cylinder and a Mercedes cylinder. Sadly they are all destined for the hammer as getting them out is going to be tricky!

More moving larks

We spent all day removing a large 32" Littlejohn press down a set of stairs at TyneMet College in Newcastle. We had to reassemble and deliver it to a different site where we discovered missing parts and sheared bolts, the press couldn't be reassembled without surgery. It was delivered where we were assured there were double doors. The press was 32" wide at the feet and widest point. The double doors were in fact single and only 30" wide. It always happens to us! People make assurances that the access is easy and flat then forget narrow doors and stairs! Where possible we do a recce mission but time and money do not always allow. Sods law we call it.

Anyway that achieved we delivered a table saw (up a set of steps) to Chris Daunt, engraver and supplier of wood engravers' blocks.

The following day we went to Yorkshire to pick up a Vandercook and deliver it to Jo Phillips who is just starting out his small letterpress shop. Jo has moved into an old mill building and hurrah first floor but a massive old goods lift (elevator) with a nice maximum weight of 20 hundred weight. Excellent!

The day after that...

Squeezing the quart into the pint pot. Retired teacher Martin Phillipson asked us to remove this Albion from his former school to his home address in Essex. Stage one was very quick and Giles and I were soon at the home address to install this press.

The first picture shows the narrow gap the press needed to go through. We had to make a sled to go on the pallet truck and lower the press longways onto it. The press had to travel through the house over carpets and floorboards then down the garden into the shed. It was one of the narrowest yet and there was just enought space to re-erect it once in the final location. This was the day after we did the large Columbian. We were both shattered after all this work! The following day we had to remove a large proof press from a basement and got a parking ticket again in central London. How do people get anything done?

Another Big Unit...

A very large Columbian belonging to the artist and author Charlotte Cory was delivered from storage in Manchester to London. The press had to be lowered down into the basement area and then set up ready for print.

We started very early on the Sunday morning to enable us to park in the West End and get the lorry near.

Stuart Harwood brought the press down from Manchester and helped us install it.

We were unaware that you are not permitted to move anything before 9am on Sunday. Several agitated neighbours appeared about 845am accusing us of all sorts and some threatening legal action. The dilemma being that you cannot park anywhere during the working week or indeed on a Sunday so what do you do?

After being lambasted on more than one occasion by the same guy all I could do was raise my hands in the air and apologise. However, there is only so much you can take and we hadn't set out to upset anybody. Needless to say the man mentioned ran to teacher but as we were removing not doing building works we hadn't committed an offence. Also you are living in one of the busiest cities in the world, it isn't the quiet countryside! I totally accept that you need to vend your spleen but not 3 times on the same rant. Get over yourselves or move somewhere quieter like a monastery. We only experience this in the Capital, anywhere else weekend work is not necessary and neighbours are much more accepting.

The client was extremely happy and we were very pleased to accomplish this job satisfactorily for her. That is all that matters. Rant over.

More Albions.....

Setting off on Monday morning we had been commissioned by Janet Watson to move her Albion. We encountered a terrible accident on the M62 which left us stationary for over 2 hours. Subsequent hold-ups meant we arrived in the early evening instead of the afternoon and stripped and removed her press in a trice! We then were to install it the following morning but Janet decided to let us take the press back to the workshop for the repairs we found it needed. We then headed to the picturesque town of Lavenham in Suffolk to collect the late Yvonne Skargon's Albion press and deliver it to Sue Scullard in Kent. We also uplifted some furniture and installed the press in Sue's new studio at the bottom of her garden. The press went back together superbly and printed perfectly from the first pull. Her son Daniel described the press as "Awesome" and enjoyed being allowed to print on it. We then returned to London to strip a derelict press from the cellar of Conway Hall just near Holborn. After endless money in the meter we also were delighted to received a parking ticket from Camden Council for parking too long in the bay even though the ticket was valid! Working in Central London is almost impossible. Parking is restrictive and you have to constantly drop off your work to feed meters or elude the multitude of traffic wardens. Come on Boris, help us poor self-employed workers to get on with our day.!!!!

Out of the ordinary.....

Last week we travelled to King Edward's School in Birmingham and repaired their Albion which didn't work correctly. We replaced the spring and got the machine functioning but came to the conclusion that an earlier replacement piece was too short hampering the machine's downward stroke. We levelled it and replaced the straps. The press now works much to the delight of Bradley Spencer the head of Art there. We also serviced their etching presses. We then travelled onto Birmingham Printmakers to sort out a problem with their elderly Albion which we will return to finish shortly.

Next we were requested by Tim Prus to reassemble, de-rust and assess his American Hoe hand presses. Tim "discovered" these machines in Bogota, Columbia including a complete step-back-in-time printer's workshop. He leapt at the chance of importing all this back to the UK. We will be installing them in his workshop some time next month. They are probably the only American Hoe presses extant in the UK, and they cleaned up nicely. We will print test them after installation. Tim was pleased and I think he got a bit of a bargain even with the hassle of shipping and customs.

Friday morning last week found us installing a treadle Arab printing machine in Wimbledon, another job which required negotiating narrow doors and re-assembling. The client an American lady Cayce was thrilled with her new acquisition and will be putting it to work printing wedding invitations and personal stationery. The press originated from the pretty town of Presteigne just over the Welsh border near Ludlow. The owners grandson had to clear out the workshop where there remains a Heidelberg and a Wharfedale Stop Cylinder press. The access was tight and we worked there on a really hot day. However once the Arab press was degreased of 60 plus years of dirt it went back together a treat and runs smooth as silk.

More moving, more travelling

We installed Jenny Furey's 26" Rochat press at the beginning of last week in North London. The following day we moved Rosalind Whitman and Iggy Mascherena's similar machine from their house in Hackney. The press needed partial stripping then up a small flight of stairs and into their workshop at the bottom of the garden. Again the job went well. Giles and I then looked at subsequent jobs in central London before travelling back North.

It's been a while, but we've been busy

Its been a while, but business has meant we've been away from home for most of July. The picture to the left is of Mavina Baker's splendid 1844 Albion. We installed this about 3 weeks ago. It was another adventure having to drive the van across 2 fields to get to the top entrance to Mavina's house. We remade and brake for the front of the press and installed it in the outdoor workshop. It looks mighty fine in its new home.

We then motored on from Wiltshire to Ilfracombe to deliver a 26" Rochat etching press to artist Ruth Uglow. The press was bought diassembled and had to have major surgery. The top roller was out of line. The bed was damaged. A lot of parts were missing and had to be remade. The press caused us no end of heartaches, so we installed it and returned fresh the following morning and completed the task. The press has had a lot of abuse and we put countless man hours into restoring it. The outcome is that Ruth is printing on it and reports it to be working well.

Another week in

Having just about completed the lead scrapping (weeps). We have just delivered a 26" Rochat etching press to a client in North London. We also moved another exact same press for another client in East London. Both presses presented their own set of problems. The first press had to be collected in Rutland, edged out through a very narrow door and stored at our workshop. The second press was down a small flight of stairs just narrower than our lifting gear. A set of ramps and some inspired thinking and the press was safely extracted and re-installed at it's new location in a Summer house at the end of the garden. Today we left early and inspected an Albion for stock at a location on the way North. Weather was appalling on our return as it often is as soon as we approach Cumbria. Delivering more presses (another Rochat, another Albion) tomorrow returning Saturday. Busy bees we are.....

More type tipping

Well, we have now dumped over 3 tonnes of type metal. There are many wet and dirty cases sitting in the museum yard to be disposed of. It is an awful job, everything is covered in a fine layer of dust and debris and the smell after 6 months still hasn't gone. We've made a good dent in it all and hope to finish next week some time. Also got the the Rochat press back from David and the gears are off ready to deliver to the client. Simon Barber has made a new bed for the etching press that was in the fire here in Kendal. The client has been to see the restoration job and she is very happy. I will deliver it on Monday. Giles returns on Tuesday and we're back to work in anger from then on.....

Type Tipping

Well the end is nigh for the Printing House Museum. The envitable type tipping is finally happening. Steve and I dropped over 1000kgs off at Moss Bay Metals today. Everyone has had a fair crack of the whip concerning the museum inventory and what is left goes to the great foundry in the sky (or China). I am still sidelining anything interesting and will offer it for sale at some later stage. It is amazing what we've missed and also amazing that after so much clearing out by all the family there is still so much to clear. But we're getting there. It is a sad time, I hope my late Father isn't too disappointed. He's probably too busy printing something wherever he is to notice!

You're a Big Unit!

Just delivered this Kimber etching press from South Croydon to Launceston, Cornwall. The artist Geoff Uglow bought this press from the Print Technician at the Slade School of Art, Dave Christopher. The pictures do not do it justice. The bed was 2 inches thick and had to be removed from Dave's small terraced house on rollers. We guess the press is about 1200kgs all told. The bottom roller was also a beast. Access at the Cornwall end was a lot easier and the press reassembled and cleaned up a treat. Incidentally we stayed in Tavistock, just over the border in Devon at Brown's Hotel. I couldn't recommend this place highly enough, the staff were really good and couldn't have been more helpful. Just returned via Bristol, very happy with the job and the big van "Derek"performed faultlessly.

Brighton, Amberley etc.

Firstly I think the big van is sorted, electrical nightmares, going to be pricey I guess. Spent a few days on the South Coast, picked up a few bits and pieces. The pictures attached are from Amberley Chalk Pits Museum. We gave them the last Linotype ever made from my late Fathers museum. We were in the process of stripping it when the floods arrived. We had to flee and leave the machine there. It stood under 5 feet of water for 2 days, all the parts on pallets as well. 6 months later and Dave, John, Terry et al at Amberley have rebuilt it. Many man hours have gone into meticulously cleaning and refurbishing. What a task. They hope to have it working for their 30th Anniversary next month. Spent a few days in Brighton with old friends and then returned via Windsor to collect some cases of type from the late Tony Ray's collection. I then delivered them up to Ben Brundell, of BritishLetterpress fame. Ben has built a new print workshop and we are hopefully going to help him move his equipment shortly.

More bad news

Van still not fixed although they seem to know now what is wrong. It appears to be in the realms of auto electrics, a riddle wrapped in an enigma and all that. Now not ready for another few days. Crap.

Well the van is still not fixed, seems I need a new lift pump and so it will be tomorrow before there is any news. Good job i made it a quiet week.

More twaddle

Just heard from the garage that the wrong part has been sent and the van should be fixed Tuesday. Hope so. Started sorting yesterdays type only to discover much keitle and not much of use. Quite a lot of stuff is incomplete and the presses are knackered too. No money has changed hands yet and not much is likely too. I think Ebay may be seeing some of it shortly!

More Stuff, where's it all going to go?

Just collected the type from a retired printer who at 90 decided to call it a day. He's still sharp as a tack, just his hands and legs letting him down. It will all be for sale soon, once I've sorted it all.

Tomorrow brings a day at the workshop - a much needed sort out and clearance.

Received news of poorly van - it has something wrong with something on a car or van I have never heard of, like patoingers or fluff valves. Still sounded positive though!

This Weeks Update

Had to postpone the weeks activity. We were due to deliver an Arab treadle to London, collect a large etching press and deliver from Croydon to Cornwall. Sadly this was not to be. Our largest vehicle has been struck by serious malaise. We are awaiting news good or bad from the Diesel specialists.

Our clients have both been hugely understanding and we have now postponed for 2 weeks.

The business remains busy with plenty of home based work to be caught up on, enquiries and repairs to do.

Hoping to update this blog regularly.