Cost of a LP Printing Press
The prices of letterpress printing presses, type, and other accrutrements have sky rocketed over the past several years. However, the prices of table top presses is what I can’t understand. What makes the value of a 8 x 10 table top press have more value than the same floor model which can do better work?
The stories that have been told here in the past of presses being donated or purchased for cents on the dollar which are dreams compared to todays market. Once upon a time purchasing wood type was affordable on ebay but now it’s almost a car payment. I’m glad my purchases were 10 years ago because I couldn’t afford it now and don’t see how anyone else can either.
I have my opinions but would love to hear from you.
Casey
Inky Lips Press
Northeast corner of Arkansas
I think the small presses are in such high demand mainly because they are small. You can use them in an apartment. You don’t need a forklift to move them. Plus most of the schools or arts centers use them to teach new students.
It is the same with proof presses. Why does a Vandercook without an ink roller motor go for $3k-$5k?
For whatever reason, everything old is new again, Letterpress is the art de jour.
It’s usual difficult to place a floor model press into a rented apartment, and mostly, they don’t have a garage. Hence a table top press is more desireable and demands more money. With the crackdown by cities in need of revenue on “unlicensed” Business - and yes, if you print something for a bottle of beer, you have received a profit and hence owe tax .
There is a huge diference between having a proper commercial location, pay all the fees, rent, insurance, electric, water etc to printing in the privacy of your home.
It’s usual difficult to place a floor model press into a rented apartment, and mostly, they don’t have a garage. Hence a table top press is more desireable and demands more money. With the crackdown by cities in need of revenue on “unlicensed” Business - and yes, if you print something for a bottle of beer, you have received a profit and hence owe tax .
There is a huge diference between having a proper commercial location, pay all the fees, rent, insurance, electric, water etc to printing in the privacy of your home.
It’s usual difficult to place a floor model press into a rented apartment, and mostly, they don’t have a garage. Hence a table top press is more desireable and demands more money. With the crackdown by cities in need of revenue on “unlicensed” Business - and yes, if you print something for a bottle of beer, you have received a profit and hence owe tax .
There is a huge diference between having a proper commercial location, pay all the fees, rent, insurance, electric, water etc to printing in the privacy of your home.
Actually it’s been that way for years, just now there’s more attention on the market so the prices all around have gone up. I bought a Pearl #3 OS 6 years ago and it cost me $300 then (no rollers and it needed a new mainshaft). At that time a complete Pearl with rollers could easily get $500—way ahead of a 8 x 12 C&P.
The more portable a object is, the better price it will command. Hence why multi-ton cylinder presses are not an easy sell (Miehle 29’s for example).
Casey
A long, long time ago it was relatively easy to pick up equipment, etc., on the cheap simply because there was no market for it. Folks had to give it away.
With the communication provided by the internet and changing values in the marketplace everything is a bit skewed. There wasn’t much of a calling for wood type twenty to thirty years ago, nor hobby presses or Vandercooks. Today they are hot, tomorrow, maybe not.
I don’t know that this should be a concern. Basically, If you can afford it and need it (or want it), buy it. If not, save the dough-re-me for something else. If someone just wants to putz around a bit in their apartment, they can buy one of those newly manufactured presses that are designed for that purposes. There are a number of them on the market now.
Things change a little bit everyday these days. Just hang on to your own, let it pass by.
Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com
Last week I saw a 3x5 toy platen at the flea market. Asked how much, was told $600. Same as one on eBay he said, and that was the starting price there. eBay has done more than anything else to raise prices. Uninformed sellers take eBay as market value, then uninformed buyers raise the bid, which leads sellers to raise prices even more.
I’m not saying the demand for presses isn’t there, just that many buyers are getting less than they need for more than they should be spending.
There is no such thing as “over-valued” in a free market. The value of any commodity, printing press stuff included, is determined by what folks are willing to pay for it. If people are willing to pay $1000 for a 3x5 Kelsey, then that’s it’s current market value. Just because we all can remember when a 3x5 was only worth $60 does not mean it’s current value is not much higher.
YES… I agree that letterpress has become the “Art Du Jour” and in the future may not retain that status…. and thus the values for equipment may fall dramatically. Then again, they may not. BUT the current values are what they are. As long as folks are willing to pay high prices, the prices will remain high. It’s that simple.
Thank you all, it’s great to read the varied comments from talented LP folks across the country. My hope would be that these machines would be more affordable but as stated in this thread prices seem to be what the market will bear. When a student comes to my workshop they are thrilled and intrigued until we discuss the entry cost of a small personal hobby setup. I can appreciate the rising cost which means my equipment is more valuable but unaffordable for anyone trying to enter into letterpress printing.
Thanks again and get inky.
Casey McGarr
Inky Lips Press
What ever happened to penny candy?
Just a reminder post
http://www.briarpress.org/26373