I have a new press!! This big beast is an Arab Crown Folio weighing in at around 600kg and dwarfing my little Hogenforst.
An unexpected surprise (thanks Dad!), the press is missing a few pieces so won’t be printing anything for just a while yet until we can make a few repairs, clean it up a bit and get some new rollers.
Nothing much to report of the printing side, I’ve been working on some new designs so haven’t really printed much in the last few of weeks. Last week on a rainy saturday I decided to try printing with my little Adana upstairs in the apartment instead of working down in the garage. Wow, I actually thought with the experience I’d gained on the larger press that it would be easy now on the Adana but was I wrong! Even though I’d leveled the platen and checked the roller height I was still getting heavier printing on the bottom than the top - everything was uneven no matter what I did. Perhaps I gave up too quickly though thinking it was going to be easy.
Anyway, thought I’d post a link to an old Chandler & Price for sale on ebay. I’ve been watching it since it was listed and after much consideration have decided not to bid - for one the price has jumped so much over the last day - maybe a little too much? The problem is there are so few for sale in Australia I think the price of them has become quite inflated. Secondly - I just don’t have the room for it! I don’t think I realised how small my little Hogenforst press is compared to a Chandler & Price! 400kg compared to a 1-1.5 tonne monster!
So for the time being I’m going to stick to the little guy and master him first, I’m realising the limitations of a smaller press but I’m designing around them now, no large designs, keep everything small and simple - which luckily is what my style of designing is!
My yellow & grey invitations have been mentioned in a blog! The lovely Suki from MIAO has posted some Etsy letterpress stores and has included mine! Check it out at: http://www.miao.com.au/blog/2011/03/letterpress-love-continue/
And while you’re at it have a look at the AHA Art and Craft Festival, a festival Suki is organising at the Marrickville town hall on the 18 June. This event will help increase awareness of local designers and help support Australian local independent artists.
