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.