[6750] in APO Printshop
RE: Inquiry about press leading
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Leonard H Tower Jr.)
Sun Feb 23 23:37:43 2014
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 23:37:40 -0500 (EST)
From: "Leonard H Tower Jr." <tower@alum.mit.edu>
To: Erik Lee Stayton <estayton@mit.edu>
cc: apo-printshop@mit.edu
In-Reply-To: <alpine.DEB.2.02.1402181936130.23376@all-night-tool.MIT.EDU>
Hi Erik,
I just read Molly's reply to you. As I suspected, the Shop doesn't
want to be in the business of selling equipment.
Granted you have a small manually powered press, you're likely to only
be doing short runs.
You could get away with leads cut from a sheet of stiff solid
cardboard, or plastic of the right thickness. It be best to cut the
strips with a sharp knife and a straight edge (not a scissors). It be
better if the cardboard was coated both sides. It be best if the
plastic didn't dissolve in whatever solvent you'll be cleaning your
type and/or cuts with. Neither is likely to stand up to repeated use.
I suggest trying the cardboard first. (I've been doing letterpress
printing as a hobby for over five decades.)
I suspect one of these stores will have coated cardboard, all on
Massachusetts Avenue:
* University Stationers halfway to Central Square
* Artist & Craftsman Supply, just south of Central Square
* Dick Blick Art Materials, just south of Central Square
The later two are more likely to have suitable plastic sheeting.
yiLFS -len
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 19:36:25 -0500 (EST)
From: Leonard H Tower Jr. <tower@alum.mit.edu>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 23:22:25 +0000
From: Erik Lee Stayton <estayton@MIT.EDU>
Hi Leonard,
Thanks for getting back to me.
It is a Kelsey Excelsior 3x5 press, currently sitting next to my desk. It
isn't owned by a print shop, but by a colleague of mine. I have a quoin and
some furniture for it already. I'd like to be able to print on it for
personal use, but not having the tools to easily cut leading limits my
options a bit. I hope you can help but if not I understand--it probably isn't
a common request.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
Erik
________________________________________
From: Leonard H Tower Jr. [tower@alum.mit.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 5:39 PM
To: Erik Lee Stayton
Cc: apo-printshop@mit.edu
Hi Erik,
What letterpress?
In whose shop?
Where -- are you using?
APO's Press Shop Manager will get back to you on your question.
Thanks.
best -len
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2014 03:49:43 +0000
From: Erik Lee Stayton <estayton@MIT.EDU>
Hello,
I am an MIT student with access to a letterpress, but I don't have
the tools to easily make leading in the appropriate sizes.
Given that you offer print services at-cost and presumably have the
appropriate tools, I was wondering if you would be willing to sell
some pieces of leading. The press I have can use leading of 10 pica
and 18 pica lengths. I would be interested in 8-10 pieces of each,
probably in 2pt width.
Let me know if I could arrange to buy some leading from you.
Many thanks,
Erik Stayton
