Letterpress Blog

Letterpress Blog http://letterpressblog.com/ Letterpress Printing History and more........... en-us Nucleus CMS v3.41 ï¿½ Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://letterpressblog.com//nucleus/nucleus2.gif Letterpress Blog http://letterpressblog.com/ American Type Founders (ATF) http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=68 American Type Founders was established in 1892 and led to the extinction of many of our early type foundries. They became the leading American manufacturer of metal type from 1892 until at least the 1940s. With the invention of composing machines like the Linotype machine, the ATF profits began to decline in the 1920s. They filed for bankruptcy in 1934 but continued to manufacture metal type until 1986, when the Kingsley company purchased the remaining business. ATF Kingsley continued to operate until 1993, when they close down the operation.

Another legacy of ATF is its typographic museum and library, which it operated for many years before finally transferring the collection to Columbia University in 1936. The books are integrated into the main Columbia collection, but there is an archive of ATF materials as well in Columbia's special collections. The specimen books produced by ATF, particularly the 1912 and 1923 editions, are masterpieces of printing as well as showcases for the diversity of font designs. Type designers and printing historians continue to study these sources as inspirations for font design and digital typography technology.

Some of the early type foundries acquired by American Type Founders included: Binny & Ronaldson, Boston Type Foundry, Central Type Foundry, Cincinnati Type Foundry, Dickinson Type Foundry, Farmer, Little & Co, Bruce Type Foundry, and Barnhart Brothers & Spindler . There was a total of 23 early type foundries that merged into the ATF campany.]]> General http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=68 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:16:35 -0500 19th Century Newspaper Printing http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=65 We wanted to share a few pictures out of a 1873 Shasta California newspaper. Some fine examples of early blocks used for advertisements. The work required to produce a newspaper was intense. Could you imagine lining up every single letter to make the paragraphs? The graphic blocks would be the easy part. You can see the printing on the backside of these pictures from the opposite page. We have many of these same blocks in our collection today. It’s very nice to see them as they were used in the past. We donated these newspapers to the Shasta CA Masonic Lodge and they are now framed and displayed there.

]]> General http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=65 Tue, 5 Jan 2010 14:22:02 -0500 Five Roses Letterpress Printing in the 21st Century http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=64

One of the most thorough and impressive letterpress resource sites on the internet today. This extremely well presented website has any and all information for the letterpress enthusiast, from novice to professional. Every letterpress link you can every want or need can be found at this site. An excerpt from their site reads: "YOU can print! You can do real printing, even if now you can’t tighten a nut, can’t boil water, can’t tell type from tape, live in one room with three other people, and have to hoard your money... It’s simple, it’s fun, it’s useful, and you’ll have something to show!"

Welcome to the wonderful world of letterpress printing! To start you on your way in this exciting, challenging, rewarding and anachronistic avocation, what follows is an introduction, freshly prepared for the start of the new millennium and updated to 2005, to the people, places, and online resources that will save you a great deal of time as you embark upon your letterpress activities. At the end of the document are links to dozens of other sites, many of which themselves contain links to hundreds of additional sites related to letterpress printing.

Their links and information include: An Overview of Letterpress Printing, Letterpress Printing and Printers, Internet Mailing Lists, National and Local Printing Groups, Online Resources, Print Resources, Classes and Academic Programs, Printing Museums, Letterpress Printing Manuals, Design and Book Arts Manuals, Acquiring Books and Manuals, Letterpress Equipment, Choosing a Press, Letterpress Dealers, Accessories and Supplies, Letterpress Printing Suppliers, Paper and Papermaking, Bookbinding, Printing Type, and Type Casting. Give Five Roses Letterpress Resource a visit and you will never be disappointed.
]]> General http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=64 Fri, 4 Dec 2009 11:14:08 -0500 More Gorgeous Eickhorn Sword Catalog Blocks http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=63

Exceptional antique woodtype printers block that features an 11 3/16” x 2” Eickhorn German made Lion Head Sword. Lion pommel topped swords like this can be found in the original 1939 Eickhorn Kundendienst catalog. This one is original catalog number 315 and features detailed engravings on the hilt, guard and blade. The block shows both the sword and the scabbard. Hand carved by a very talented engraver many years ago. This woodtype block is made up of a few blocks tightly glued together and carved out. The block is type high, or approximately .918 inches.

A second example of another beautiful hand carved engraving that features a lions head pommel sword or edged weapon. This one measures 10 9/16” x 2 2/16” and is type high, .918 inches. The block shows both the sword and the scabbard. Original Eickhorn catalog number 1300. Also made up of a few solid hardwood blocks tightly glued together and carved out. Detailed engravings on the hilt, guard and blade.

Eickhorn Lion Sword Copper Printers Block

This one features a third example of a lion pommel Eickhorn German made sword. It is an electrotype copper faced mounted on a solid hardwood base. It measure 1034” x 1 ¾” and is type high, .918 inches Original Eickhorn catalog number 1523. There are fine engravings on the handle as well as the blade. The block shows both the sword and the scabbard. The backsides of a lot of these catalog blocks still have paper padding added from one of the original catalogs, in the German language. Detailed engravings on the hilt, guard and blade.

A forth example of a vintage Eickhorn Lion pommel sword or edged weapon. The lions bust on this one has a different style to the head. This one is a short sword measuring 6 5/8” x 1 1/16” and is type high, .918 inches. It only shows the sword and does not have the scabbard shown. No guard on the hilt. Original Eickhorn catalog number 511. It is an electrotype copper faced mounted on a solid hardwood base printers block.

German Eickhorn Officers Forestry Cutlass Printers Block

WWI German Eickhorn Officers Forestry Cutlass Sword. Our gallery also has an original woodtype block with this same graphic or sword used. There are three acorns that embellish the stag-horn handle, one acorn on the scabbard. The blade features a decorative scrollwork design. The block shows both the sword and the scabbard. This one measures 6” x 1 1/4”, and is type-high, .918 inches. Used to print an advertisement to purchase this sword through an original Eickhorn catalog. It is an electrotype copper faced mounted on a solid hardwood base printers block.

]]> General http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=63 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:24:03 -0500 Antique Hand-Carved Woodtype Printer’s Blocks http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=55

Our favorite blocks out of our collection have always been the beautiful hand-carved woodtype blocks from the 19th century. We have some fine examples that feature many topics. The one pictured for this paragraph measures 1 15/16” x 1 3/16” and is an original engraving that represents a Telegraph office. Entirely done by free hand on the backside of a Hamilton Wood Type number 0. A gorgeous example of an early woodtype used to print in newspapers or flyers for advertisement during the 19th century.

Corinthian Yacht Club hand carved woodtype

Original engraving from 1890 that represents the Providence Corinthian Yacht Club. The Providence was actually a 379 ton schooner built in 1874. Although I would believe this hand-carved block represents the Providence Rhode Island chapter of the Corinthian Yacht Club. This beautiful example has the text Providence Corinthian Yacht Club, Inc’d – 1890. The text is laid out inside the nautical ships rope and has a single star flag in the center. The block is solid boxwood and measures 1 3/8” x 1 3/8”. A very rare find indeed.

Another exceptional antique woodtype block. This one features an African American hobo and his bulldog. The bulldog is lifting his leg and relieving himself on the man’s shoe. This gorgeous engraving measures 2” x 2 13/16” and is solid boxwood. We have many other fine examples of hand-carved antique woodtype blocks on our website. True Americana Folk-Art at it's finest. You may visit our woodtype image gallery here.

]]> General http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=55 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:22:41 -0400 Antique Letterpress Printers Block Image Gallery http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=51

We currently host an on-line gallery with over 1000 rare, antique, or vintage printer’s blocks. The blocks are all American made and date from the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are categories that include electrotype copper faced, metal alloy faced, foundry cast blocks, hand-carved woodtype blocks, classic advertisement, Holidays, edged weapons, and early foundry identification and pin marks. There are many fine examples of very early hand-carved woodtypes that include telegraph, animals, edged weapons, and more. Many of these historical items are also available for purchase in our on-line store. Our blog offers more in-depth information on specific blocks or styles of blocks. Please visit the gallery to view our collection. We will be adding to it continually and will be displaying many more fine examples from this Historic and often overlooked art-form. ]]> General http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=51 Thu, 8 Oct 2009 09:29:45 -0400 Early Foundry PIN Marks and Identification http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=50

MacKellar Smiths and Jordan Foundry PIN Mark

Prior to 1892 there was a large number of independent type foundries producing type and blocks for the letterpress printing industries. Type foundries were companies that designed, manufactured, and distributed typefaces. Typefaces are the various fonts or lettering used in today’s digital age. Many of the original designs from the early type foundries are still distributed electronically today. Each typeface usually included the alphabet, numbers, and punctuation marks. Some also included ideograms and symbols and in some cases the typeface consisted entirely of them. A typeface and a font used to have individual distinctions, however with the digital age the two became interchangeable terms.

In 1892 American Type Founders (ATF) was created and 23 of the early type foundries were merged into the corporation. Other major type foundries were also absorbed into the ATF Corporation soon thereafter. ATF became the dominant metal type manufacturer from 1892 until at least the 1940s. They continued to be influential into the 1960s. With the invention Linotype Machine, profits began to decline in the 1920s and the company went through bankruptcy and reorganization in 1934. The ATF company did continue to operate until 1986 when it was acquired by Kingsley and Kingsley ATF closed it’s doors in 1993.

Pin marks on foundry cast type were originally a “pin like” mark left by the early type casters, as the type was removed from the mold. With the advancement of casting equipment in the 19th century, the pin was no longer required. The pin mark evolved into an identifying mark by the producing foundry. Those unique pin identification marks can be used today to identify exactly where the specific piece of type was produced. The round pin marks were on the metal type and the foundries also used stamp impressions to identify the manufacturer of specific printer’s blocks or letterpress cuts. We host a small assortment of some early pin and foundry markings on our website and you may view those here.
]]> General http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=50 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:38:31 -0400 Jack Sprat Food Stores Printer’s Block http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=49

This gorgeous antique printer’s block features the classic Jack Sprat bust framed by the name Jack Sprat, and above the text: Food Store. It is an electrotype copper face mounted on hardwood block. We actually have three of these on our website. Two of them are copper faced, the other is white metal faced. The block shown above measure 2 9/16” x 2 9/16” and is “type-high”. Jack Sprat Food Stores were one of the original Grocery store chains in the USA. There is little information on the significance of Jack Sprat as an advertising character or why he was chosen as a brand name. They were very popular in the 1930 – 40s but history on them seems to be lacking? A classic Jack Sprat Food Stores ad was worded as follows from the Madison Lake Times, June 16, 1938.

At Jack Sprat Food Stores you are certain to find just the thing you are looking for at most reasonable prices. On our shelves this week we are offering our customary Friday and Saturday Specials. If you are looking for meats, groceries, fruits, or vegetables, be sure to stop here and look over the displays in our food stores.

Jack Sprat originated as a nursery rhyme in England somewhere around the 17th century. It became well known when it was made it into “Mother Goose’s Melody” around 1765. The poem is said to have history that relates back to King Charles I (1600-1649) and Henrietta Maria, his Queen (1609-1669). It is said that when King Charles (Jack Sprat) declared war on Spain, parliament refused to finance him, leaving him lean! So his wife imposed an illegal war tax to get some fat, after the angered King (Jack Sprat) dissolved Parliament.

Complete Jack Sprat Nursery Rhyme:

Jack Sprat could eat no fat.
His wife could eat no lean.
And so between them both, you see,
They licked the platter clean.

Jack ate all the lean,
Joan ate all the fat.
The bone they picked it clean,
Then gave it to the cat

Jack Sprat was wheeling,
His wife by the ditch.
The barrow turned over,
And in she did pitch.

Says Jack, "She'll be drowned!"
But Joan did reply,
"I don't think I shall,
For the ditch is quite dry.".
]]> General http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=49 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:42:15 -0400 The Many Faces of Santa Claus http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=48

A sampling of the different style Santa Claus graphics on some of our antique printers blocks. They range in size up to 6” and include both metal alloy and electrotype copper face mounted on solid boxwood bases. Used in the past to print Christmas Holiday greeting cards and advertisements. Our Western version of Santa Claus is a mythical character that brings gifts to the homes of the good children on Christmas Eve, December 24th. He is also known as Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, or simply Santa. Belsnickel is the fur-clad Santa of the Palatinate (Pfalz) in northwestern Germany along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald region of Baden-Württemberg. In Pennsylvania Dutch communities, it is also a mythical being that visits children at Christmas time. If they have not been good, they will find coal and/or switches in their stockings. The Belsnickel was a scary creature not well loved except by parents wanting to keep their children in line. Among some families of German descent, Belsnickel delivers socks or shoes full of candy to children on the feast day of St. Nicholas, December 6. Enjoy some of the variations depicted on the below cuts / blocks.

Harvey Fuller Santa Claus Printers Block

Santa Christmas Stockings Printers Block

Santa Father Baby New Year Printers Block

Santa Clause with Open Arms Printing Block

]]> General http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=48 Tue, 1 Sep 2009 07:13:24 -0400 Hershey Chocolate Co. Printers Blocks http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=42 Milton S. Hershey had three failed attempts at starting candy companies in Philadelphia, Chicago, and New York. In 1883 he relocated to Lancaster, PA and opened the Lancaster Carmel Company. This company became a great success and led to what has now become the premier American Chocolate Company. In 1893 Milton visited the Columbian Exposition World’s Fair in Chicago. His visit to the German exhibit left him enamored with the chocolate-making machinery on display. He ended up purchasing some German equipment and began making chocolate candy at the Lancaster Carmel Company. In 1900, he sold his Lancaster Carmel Company in order to pursue his dream of producing chocolate exclusively. He spent the next few years developing his own recipe for Milk Chocolate, which was previously only a foreign luxury snack. He managed to perfect a recipe and thus began his mission to open a factory for production.

Great American Chocolate Bar Print Block

In 1903 he returned to his Birth town of Derry Township, Pa and began construction of his dream chocolate manufacturing facility. The factory was completed in 1905 and began to produce what has become the most famous of all American made chocolate candy bars, the Hershey Bar. He marketed his product nationally and was the first person to do so with this type of product. Milton Hershey had much more in mind than just becoming the premier American chocolate manufacturing company. He was a great humanitarian and one of his main goals was to provide his employees with an entire community built around his chocolate empire. Not only providing a lovely community, but also providing great transportation, schools, recreation, and cultural activities. In 1907 he opened Hershey Park mainly for his employees enjoyment. The park continued to grow with added attractions and soon was getting many non-local visitors. The city that he built around the factory featured gorgeous tree-lined street with attractive and comfortable housing. During the Great Depression he began a building campaign to ensure the towns continued growth and provided employment for the local population. Others were telling him not to invest his money in such projects but Milton ignored them and continued to build what has now become a premier vacation destination. In 1930 he began construction of the Hershey Hotel, overlooking his Hershey Park and the Chocolate Factory. The hotel was completed in 1933 and today it is still one of the most loved structures in the area.

Early Hershey Factory Printers Block

A trip to Hershey PA today is quite a treat. The town is exceptional with its Hershey Kiss street lamps, manicured streets, and many attractions. Hershey Park has grown into an impressive array of rides and attractions. One of the favorite additions was that of Chocolate World next to Hershey Park. This attraction is free of cost and offers a Chocolate Manufacturing Tour Ride, 3-D movie, restaurants, and a store filled with every kind of Hershey product made, including candy and souvenirs. There is a Hershey town trolley tour and the old order Amish communities in Lancaster Pa are just a short drive away.

The three vintage printers blocks featured for this article are original pieces used in off-set printing from days long past. The top one features the classic Hershey Bar, the Great American Chocolate Bar. The second block is an early graphic of the new chocolate factory in Hershey, PA. The last block features one of Milton Hershey's original products. The item debuted in 1894 and this is a very early cut advertising that classic product.

Hershey Baking Chocolate Printers Block

]]> General http://letterpressblog.com/index.php?itemid=42 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:32:26 -0400