Chandler & Price 12x18
Hi folks,
This is mostly an introductory note. I’m a trained book binder, photographer, writer, and teacher. I’m a newbie at letterpress, having cut my teeth recently using a Kelsey 5x8 to print some short stories I’d written and that were published in the recent past in small lit. journals. This print project was for an Art History independent study class at Oklahoma State University where I’m a grad student in English/Creative Writing. What a learning experience! I was constantly frustrated and enthralled for several months.
I’m a bit long in the tooth (I hit 60 in a few months), but I figure I’m a dog not too old to learn new tricks. So, short story long—I just picked up a Chandler and Price 12x18 in good shape and moved it to my home here in Stillwater. This is a new style C&P, I think, with the straight spokes on the flywheel. I’ll need a motor and new rollers, but otherwise I have a massive machine on which to practice book arts.
I already had a lot of type, quoins, furniture, reglets, and other tools and supplies of the trade, though I’ll sell off some of my old type to get fonts I want.
I’ve found these forums to be a rich source of information and (generally) friendly advice. I look forward to dipping into and out of the conversation as I learn more about using this press.
First question: Any particular warnings I should heed? Particular books I should read? I want to keep all my fingers and toes!
Cheers!
Roger
Visit another printer and get a few lessons before learning some bad habits. Normally I suggest a treadle for new platen press operators rather than a motor, but the 12x18 is a bit large for that. Set up some way to slow the motor down a lot so you can practice at very slow speed. As you gain confidence, you can increase the speed.
Read all the books. Repeat as necessary.
Roger, I don’t know whether your C&P has the crank-style flywheel shaft or not, but if it does I’d suggest starting out using it by getting or making a treadle for it and using foot power. It gives you a lot more control over speed and you can stop the press quickly if necessary or advisable. Unless you have fairly extensive experience feeding a motorized press you could be asking for trouble for your fingers. And for small runs the treadle is good exercise and, I’ve found, saves paper from misfeeds.
Bob
Thanks Arie,
I’ll check the area to try to find other printers. It would be good to have first hand lessons, the way I did with book binding. The videos I’ve seen of people operating these bigger presses indicate to me that one needs a lot of practice to run them at their normal operating speeds. I wondered about a treadle; I’ve read some threads that suggest them, and that the 12 x 18 has that option but that it’s slow due to the number of revolutions the flywheel must make in order to make one impression.
Thanks for the advice!
Roger
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the advice. I’ll post some pictures soon and perhaps that will help people determine what may work. I have a few months before the summer break when I’ll set up and attempt to use it, so I’ll continue to seek training and advice between now and then. Again, thanks for the suggestions!
Roger
Virginia Commonwealth University’s printing studio has a 12x18 and the teacher was nervous about letting students run it motorized. She asked me for help and I designed a treadle to be welded up from readily-available steel angle and sheet, and one of the sculpture profs welded it up. It worked fine and the students have been able to use the press a lot.
Bob
CandP Treadle.JPG
angle iron treadle.jpg
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the photo and the drawing. I see a shaft extending up from the crossbar, and I’ll have to look closely at my machine to see where it attaches and how. This is good information, and come summer when I have more time, I may be in touch again.
Thanks
Roger
The shaft extending up from the crossbar on the treadle is the lower end of the hook that connects to the crank in the flywheel shaft. What doesn’t show in the photo or the drawing is that the rear crosspiece of the treadle is angle iron like the sides, attached to the rod across the lower rear of the frame with U-bolts.
Bob