Featured Oldest Press Story #10:
Superior Cub all metal Printing Press No. 8401
Submitted by Nancy Godfrey, Godfrey's Custom Printing,
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

"Christmas morning in the early 1960s.

Imagine my surprise when I opened this gift that Santa left for me. My very own Superior Cub all metal Printing Press No. 8401. The box informed me I could print my own newspaper with this little press. Why would Santa give me such a unique gift?

At age 11, I had no idea I would go to college to major in journalism. I hated English in school, especially grammar. I just couldn't understand it. Nor did I have any inkling that I would own my own print shop beginning in 1991. To tell the truth, as a kid I wanted to be a detective like Nancy Drew and solve mysteries, or be a spy and work with the Man from U.N.C.L.E. I wanted to save the world from some evil enemy. What was Santa thinking?!

Nevertheless, the press was mine and I was going to play with it. In the photo you can see some of my handiwork informing my "newspaper" readers that the summer was hot and my sister, Kitty, and I wanted to go swimming. It must have been the last thing I printed because the moveable, rubber type is still set up to that message, although the letters have shifted a bit over the years.

Now, I know what you're thinking. That is a toy—not a printing press, but I beg to differ for several reasons:

1. It prints.
2. It was given a place of honor as my first printing press when we held our open house just before we opened the doors to Godfrey's Custom Printing in February, 1991, and has had a home in this office ever since.
3. It serves as an object lesson to young people to try new things, because you never know what you might enjoy doing.
4. It is recognized as a printing press in "Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection," published in 1996 by the National Museum of American History.
   http://americanhistory.si.edu/about/pubs/HARRIS1.PDF (Go to page 36, click on the button to see the second half of the publication, then go to page 40 to see a description of my little press.) If the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., mentioned this press in its publication, don't you think it should be considered in this contest?

From what I can find, the Cub was manufactured around 1963, but there is no date anywhere on the press. I am sure someone has entered an older press they have sitting in some corner somewhere, but I do hope you will consider my old press for its uniqueness.

Your next question is probably whether this press influenced me in some way to go into journalism and graphic arts. I don't think so. I credit that to an 11th grade English teacher who taught grammar in a way that I finally grasped it. He also was the school newspaper adviser and taught journalism.

Thanks for considering my Cub press in your Oldest Printing Press Contest."

Featured Oldest Press Story #9:
Parks Lithographic Hand Press, circa 1890/1900
Submitted by Peg and George Lestina, owners of IPC Graphics, Printing and Design, Manchester, Missouri

"To survive in the printing business, one must be solid, reliable, and capable of doing the hard work required, yet flexible when the situation requires it. One must be able to provide clients with value that reaches beyond the printed page. Our press has survived more than 100 years and demonstrates these characteristics on a daily basis.

Though methods and media change, the desire to convey thoughts from one person to many others in a tangible form is as old as the human species. Our Parks Lithographic Hand Press is not as old as mankind, but we know that it was manufactured in New York by Robert Mayer & Co., some time in the late 1800s or the early 1900s.

Our press made its way to Missouri and was originally used by Saint Louis Law Printing (founded in 1906). As near as our research can determine, this press was probably in use for several years before SLLP was founded. We also have one of the original litho stones used on this press to print diplomas for the Tampa Business College and School of Standard Phonography (Phonography? We looked it up—it is a form of shorthand.)

Later, when SLLP converted to more newfangled "stuff," the press was moved to a back room where it remained, patiently waiting, until 1983 when IPC purchased the company. We brought the press with us to Des Peres, Missouri, and then to Manchester—moving west in the finest Daniel Boone tradition.

Moving the press was NOT an easy task. It is solid cast iron! We can only imagine the colorful language involved when this press was originally shipped from New York. We used some ourselves! But move it we did, because we didn’t want to lose touch with the history of our chosen profession.

Though we do not print with our Parks press, this old veteran still works tirelessly for us and the printing industry. It is the focal point of our lobby. One of our interns used it as the inspiration for a short promotional piece on the invention of lithography. Our salespeople use it to explain how far printing has evolved, yet how it is essentially the same. On a daily basis, it reminds us that printing has always been a demanding profession that requires commitment to craftsmanship in order to produce the quality that defines excellent printing. Our old press is a tangible historical link in an ever-changing process that once required muscle, but has always required brains.

In its youth, our press did manual labor. There are two Parks presses in the Smithsonian, displayed as examples of early hand lithography. Now, in its golden years, this venerable retiree is a teacher. Still working after all these years!"

Featured Oldest Press Story #8:
Chandler & Price, year unknown
Submitted by Victor Comeau (third-generation "Footprint"), owner of Imprimerie Ed's Print Shop, Nova Scotia, Canada

"Pictured is my grandfather working on his press. This press was bought by him in 1935, secondhand. It's so old that the name could not be found on the press. The only tag on the press reads, ‘Sold by Toronto Type Foundry Company Limited, of Toronto, Canada.' So, getting information is a little difficult, as the company that sold the press is out of business, my grandfather is no longer with us, and the only one left is my elderly father, who thought it was a Chandler & Price Hand Feed 10 x 15 Platen Letter Press.

People came to see my grandfather work his magic of feeding this machine with one hand and removing with the other, all the while watching if he was going to get his fingers caught in that clamshell mechanism. This was the first press in this area and was a sight to see for a farming and fishing Acadian community. Foot power, pumping away to make this press run, earned him the nickname, ‘Footprint,' which has stuck with the family to this day, and has been passed down to the fourth generation.

If you are ever in the area, just ask any of the locals where to find the ‘Footprints,' and you will be directed straight to our print shop."

Featured Oldest Press Story #7:
Chandler & Price, 1934
Submitted by Gene Reicks, owner of Ye Olde Printshoppe, Spillville, IA

"I am entering a 1934 Chandler and Price 12 x 18 Craftsman Press with a Rice Automatic Feeder. This press was purchased new in 1935 by the Times Plain Dealer in Cresco, Iowa, and I still have the original instruction and parts books. I started working for the Times in November of 1951 as a Printer's Devil. I was 15 years old and was trained to run and feed the Meile newspaper press and this C&P job press.

This press is special to me is because it was purchased by the newspaper the same year I was born, in 1935. It was used by the newspaper until June of 1969, when the newspaper went offset. I ran the press for the Times every day during those 18 years. Then, in 1969, the Times was one of six area newspapers that formed a corporation to build a central offset printing facility and jointly purchase an offset press. I left the Times that year to become pressroom foreman at the new plant. At that plant, I continued to print the Times for many years, until I retired.

With the move to offset, the Times also converted its job shop to offset and moved into a smaller building. I was asked to help with the move. When we got to the 12 x 18, my old boss said I should sell it for junk. But I told him it was too good to junk and that the press deserved better. He told me that if I wanted it, I should take it. So I did.

My son and I dismantled the press and moved it to my garage where it remained in pieces for a couple of years. However, as more and more shops switched to offset, there became an increasing demand for job work that could best be done on a letterpress. So, I started my own company called Ye Olde Printshoppe.

We cleaned and reassembled the old 12 x 18 and it became the centerpiece of the new shop. In addition to the C&P, we also have a Model 11 Golding Pearl, a Model 8 Linotype, a Ludlow, 96-plus drawers of type and a large case of wooden circus type. I also have a small offset operation.

The 12 x 18 is still a workhorse in my shop. Since I started running it 58 years ago, I have printed everything from ice cream pail covers to wedding napkins, envelopes and receipt books on the press. These days, I most often print carbonless stock on the offset and then perforate and number it on the 12 x 18. However, I still do plenty of napkins, raffle books, business cards and other miscellaneous jobs on the 12 x 18.

I retired from the central offset plant on Dec. 31, 2001. However, I've continued to operate Ye Olde Printshoppe. As you can see, this press has been a large part of my life. Therefore, although it's not the oldest press in my shop, it is the one press that I feel deserves recognition."

Featured Oldest Press Story #6:
Chandler and Price, 1885
Submitted by Bob Michael of RW Michael Printing Company, Akron, OH

"This press is a Chandler and Price Company hand-feed press. She was made in Cleveland, Ohio, in the late 1800s.

It is sort of a unique press because it is a 7" by 11" image size and the only one I have ever seen in this size in my entire 59 years as a printer. Most of the other Chandler and Price presses I have seen are 8" by 12" image size or larger.

It shows the Patent date on the press as being May 26, 1885. So I have to believe that this machine is well over 100 years old. One can only wonder about the type of jobs that were produced on her way back when.

Well, my history with this press began as a 14-year-old kid in 1950, when I used the money I saved from delivering newspapers to buy this press. I moved the press into the basement of my parents' house. Let's just say mom wasn't thrilled to have cans of ink and a clanky old press in her basement. But she let me start the R. W. Michael Printing Co. anyway.

This press let me grow into a bigger shop over the years. There were many hours spent hand-feeding sheets into this press: handbills for grocery stores, letterheads, bumper stickers, heck I even used to die cut small jobs on her. I'm sure there have even been more than a few sets of NCR PAPER* brand carbonless crash numbered on the old girl too.

We don't really use her anymore, but she stands ready to have ink on her rollers and get back to work. I'm sure with a small amount of oil in her joints and a few test sheets to get the hand-feeding rhythm back, we could get some printing done once again."

Featured Oldest Press Story #5:
Chandler and Price, late 1800s
Submitted by Debra Hall of Pippa Valley Printing, Emmalena, KY

"In Eastern Kentucky, people just naturally care about things like family and tradition. The old handpress you see in this picture has become our shop's mascot—we think that the spirit of our family-run business is epitomized by this ancient cast-iron handpress, which sits nobly in the front of our shop.

It is the same press that my grandfather, Carew Slone, ran in the 1940s to raise funds for what is now Alice Lloyd College. In those days, Carew's young daughter, Girdell—my mother—would often stand beside him on a pop crate and 'slipsheet' the papers as he pulled them off the press.

When Girdell married her husband, Chester, he worked side-by-side with her father, taking his turn at the handpress. And, in 1969, when the couple established Pippa Valley Printing, the first job produced was run on the same handsome old press.

After many good years, we finally retired the old boy. The press, which we think dates to the late 1800s, is still in working condition, but now its only job is to impress clients, who inevitably want to know its history.

We tell them that there's still a little handpress spirit in every job we do."

Featured Oldest Press Story #4:
Chandler and Price, 1921
Submitted by Dick Barnett of RB Printing, Mattawan, MI

"I am a Chandler and Price 9x12 New Series Handfed Letterpress. I was manufactured in 1921 according to my serial number, B55887.

The first years of my life are unknown until about 1951. Herb Willis was a printer for many years until he took a job with Consumers Power. It was at his retirement that he purchased me used from Kalamazoo Printing Machinery Co. of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

I was then transported to Ludington, Michigan, where I was installed in his basement. It was there that my original purpose of printing the church bulletin was done on a weekly basis. From that point on I continued to gather more business until I was very busy every day printing business cards, letterhead, envelopes, receipt books and bookmarks.

As time passed, more and more foundry type was added to keep me busy and happy. During that time in my life I met Dick Barnett, the great nephew of Herb. Dick was about 12 years old at the time. He would show up on Thursday nights to observe Herb change the lines of type to get ready to print, then do some makeready, proofreading and then ready to print the weekly new church bulletin. That is when Herb sent Dick to the basement steps to observe as Herb would print the bulletins. All the time Dick wanted to print some of the bulletins, but Herb felt it was too dangerous.

As time passed, Dick went on to Ferris State College to get his degree in Printing. No doubt because of his exposure to me at an early age.

After graduation from college, Dick worked for a few print shops and a newspaper doing what he wanted to do, "putting ink on paper."

Then the sad day finally came when Herb could no longer make me hum like he used to and I sat idle in that basement for over six years, with my ink rollers rotting.

Finally, the day came. "Dick," said Herb's son, "I'm selling the house. Would you like to have the old letterpress? I know you used to come over to the house to observe my dad print the bulletins. And you are in the printing business." Without hesitation, Dick said YES.

Now, the real job would be to get me out of the basement. With my flywheel removed, there would be just enough room to move me up the steep set of stairs. With four men, two ropes and a moving truck attached to the ropes, I was slowly pulled up the steps with sheets of plywood placed on the steps ahead of me. Once in the clear and on the truck, I was sent to storage for a few weeks.

Then the big day came. I was loaded up and trucked back home, to the Kalamazoo area, Mattawan, Michigan, to be exact, about 7 miles from Kalamazoo. I was moved into a building behind the house, which later became a print shop. I received a new set of rollers and roller trucks. Now I was ready to get going once again.

I started out by printing business cards. Then I moved up to wooden business cards, wedding and anniversary napkins. Like before, I got busier and busier, printing 35 mm slide carriers, die cutting small J cards, crash numbering two- and three-part Appleton NCR PAPER* brand invoices, and even imprinting two-pocket folders. Just like I had done before in Ludington, I started a business. This time around I lost much of my business to an offset press that was purchased later. But it was good to be put to use again.

It has now been over 30 years since RB Printing was started and I was moved to this location. I don't get used as much as I used to, but there are jobs that only I can do. When I get the call, I am ready and willing to get the work done, even at the ripe old age of 88."

Featured Oldest Press Story #3:
Kluge Letterpress, 1920
Submitted by Frank Gambardella of Bardell Printing Corporation, East Haven, CT

"Not only do we have the oldest press, a 1920 Kluge Letterpress, but we have the oldest vintage pressman.

Tony Gambardella, Vice President, is 91 years old and still comes in every day to work. Tony has been in printing since age 18 (except for WWII Service) and continues today. Both press and pressman are operational.

Tony will print numbering jobs on this press. Mostly on NCR PAPER* brand carbonless forms that we printed offset, then numbered letterpress.

Just because they're old doesn't mean they can't get the job done with excellence! Here's living proof that these two vintage seniors (press & pressman) are not finished yet!"

Featured Oldest Press Story #2:
Chandler and Price, 1922
Submitted by Terry Evans of Sun Graphics, Plymouth, WI

"This 10 x 15 C & P was built in 1922 according to a short biography from its old owner, and was purchased in 1924 by a man from Plymouth named Erbstaser. He and his wife used the press and the handset case to start up their own small print shop in downtown Plymouth. They ran the small three-person shop until the early 1950s.

The press is still used today at Sun Graphics to do some die cutting and small specialized printing. It still has the original three-phase 1 hp motor—which I have had to have re-worked twice since I have been here. We have three people in our shop who operate the press, including myself, the owner.

It is identical to the press I started on in 1963 when I was 12 and my dad, who owned a small country weekly in Illinois, had a wooden roller box we would stand on so we would be tall enough to feed the press.

I grew up in the printing business along with my 5 brothers and 8 sisters, of which 11 of us are still in the trade. From a sister who owns a medium-size print shop in Clearwater, Florida, to a brother who is the Publisher of 17 newspapers in Central Illinois, and another sister who is an executive with the Chicago Sun-Times.

When I run the press today, and I will, occasionally—it takes me back to the time when my parents, siblings and I would work late into the night hitting deadlines for print jobs and newspapers. All of us today owe our success to our parents, who helped us build a legacy of printing throughout the years.

The press is not just a machine, but a reminder of a simpler yet harder lifestyle that our forefathers in the industry used—at that time, printing was not just a job, but a vocation and a way of life.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about my press."

Featured Oldest Press Story #1:
Windmill Letterpress, a.k.a. The Original Heidelberg

Following is an excerpt from our first featured Oldest Press story, submitted by Katie and Ted Hefty from Hefty Graphics, Inc. in Minneapolis.

"Our Windmill was born in 1950 and purchased January 12, 1953, from The Showood Company, a.k.a. Heidelberg Central Inc. Heidelberg sold this fancy-shmancy piece of equipment for a total of $3,300.

My first recollection of our 10 x 15 Windmill Letterpress, a.k.a. The Original Heidelberg, was when I would accompany my father, as punishment for being a bad kid, to the print shop he worked in...I would learn about all sorts of things there. He would show me what went on in the dark room, how to use the cutter and most importantly, how the presses worked. I would always end up collating—it's pretty much the only thing an 8-year-old can do in a print shop, but it was worth it. I got to see all the cool things involved in the printing world (and he would take me out to lunch).

I will never forget the first time I saw the Windmill. I thought it was alive and that scared me a bit. The arms of the machine moved in a circle, grabbing the paper like an octopus, and it made a breathing noise that reminded me of the big bad wolf huffing and puffing and blowing the shop down. It wasn't until I was older, and I came to work for my father, that I discovered what an amazing piece of machinery the Windmill really is.

Our little Windmill has become somewhat of a novelty around town. College classes come in to see our Windmill and learn about how printing was done then. As the years go by and salesmen continue to walk through the door offering bigger and better presses, my hope is that our little Windmill never loses its spot on our pressroom floor."