What is the right proof press for me?
Hi, I’m just getting started in letterpress. I have a C&P tabletop that I’m moderately familiar with, and now I’d like to get a proof press to start playing with wood type and posters. But I have two main constraints: my space is on the third floor of an old building whose elevator has a narrow door; and I live in Calgary, so will most likely require cross-border moving. (I recently brought up a cabinet of type from Brooklyn and the customs process nearly gave me palpitations, so I can only imagine what’s involved with moving up a massive piece of weird-looking steel.)
This is a hobby for me, so anything I do will involve short print runs; also it would be nice to get something for four digits, rather than five. On the other hand, I don’t want to go to the trouble of finding and moving something I’ll outgrow quickly. I’d love to get my hands on a Challenge Proof Press or Vandercook SP15, but the moving issues and cost scare me away a bit.
Can anyone give me advice on a good press to fit my profile?
Thanks,
Monica
Have you contacted Don Black Linecasting in Toronto? Great fount of knowledge, first class equipment, and there are no ‘Border Bandits’ to fend. :o)
I have a C&P Pilot tabletop press, and our second purchase was a Showcard Model B Special from Dave Barabas. He’s got some newly refurbished ones up for sale in the Classifieds here. He is awesome and I love my Showcard. It weighs about 200lbs, but it’s narrow enough to fit through an elevator door. You’d just need some help carrying/transporting it.
I really like my Nolan proof press. It was a three figure purchase, I can carry it around by myself if I need to, and it’s very simple - hardly anything to repair or maintain. I have to say, I do like inking by hand because it gives me some room to play around. I also had to make a little jig for registration, but otherwise I don’t feel like I am missing out on much by not having something larger or more complex (or something that’s worth more than my car, for that matter). I usually do runs of about 20-30 posters on it and occasionally I’ll use it on a run of 100 or so greeting cards when I want a gradient I can’t get on my Craftsmen tabletop.
And I’d second the recommendation for Don Black, he’s great. I visited his shop last year and it was well worth the trip from Baltimore.
Thanks, all. I had been watching Don’s website and had fired off an email. Still hoping he might come back to me with something.
I am very surprised that you had difficulty with customs. Because of NAFTA, Graphic Arts is a protected field and you should be able to bring anything printing related across the border with no duty, no problem. I am a US citizen, but married to a Canadian. When we moved back to Canada in 2010 we brought all my printing stuff with me, no problem. Then later when I brought back type and small equipment from the Museum of Printing that I had purchased at the type sale during the Printing Arts Fair, again, no problem as it was related to the graphic arts.
And I agree, call Don Black.