wanting to learn letterpress

Like many of the OF’s here, I learned on the job as an apprentice, and for relatively low wages. Unfortunately, not many letterpress shops in south Oregon (or anywhere else in the NW) are offering apprenticeships these days. But you should look into that angle, anyway.

You didn’t give a hint as to you age, or exactly where in south Oregon. Depending on your level of enthusiasm, you just might land a job in a real live letterpress shop. In any case, first hand experience couldn’t hurt, in addition to formal training. Even at min.wage, a job could help to finance classes. Bonus!

You might try Eureka CA if it isn’t too far. I found this on the AAPA site.

Blue Ox Millworks, Eureka, California.
Watch craftsmen use antique machinery of the 1800s and early 1900s to do wood work, print and bind books, blacksmith a nail, or mix stains and varnishes. The working print shop, based upon a 1910 model, includes three presses, a newspaper press, a large collection of type, and a paper cutter. Location: 1 X Street, Eureka, CA 95501; Phone: 800-248-4259.

Good luck.

Thanks to both of your responses. I should, however, tell you that I have absolutely no experience at all with the printing or letterpress processes. I have been out of school for over 20 years and find paper arts (prints, fine stationery, art greeting cards and the like) something I would like to explore. I guess I just need to know how one gets started in this field. Are there any books that might be useful for the absolute beginner, or any websites? Thanks so much again.

I can recommend “Letterpress Printing,” by Paul Maravelas. You can get it through Amazon.

euclidpark - Welcome to the Briar Press community. There is a lot of information on Briar Press that will lead a beginner to links and suggestions on and off the site. There is really no short cut to your answer except to wade in and start sorting through all the information that is available.

You might want to start with the
Printer's Yellow Pages. The categories include sections such as “Getting started,” “Books: reference,” “Schools/classes.” and “Printers/publishers.”

The categories are searchable by location so you might find a printer or school where you can observe or take a class. Depending on where you live, you would learn a lot if you could connect with printers who will show you the process first hand. Once you have done that, you will have many more specific questions that can be more easily answered by the BP community.

Happy hunting, and hope you will share your progress in the forums so others can learn from your experience.

Thanks to all of you for your help. I will continue my research on this site. I have found a lot of useful information already on this site and find it wonderful that everyone has been so helpful.

where are you in Oregon? I am in the Roseburg area and would be happy to share my limited knowledge and show you around the press