Last Saturday we did the first of our long-promised workshops, at the world-famous 1 in 12 club in Bradford. The idea was to introduce the interested into the bizarre and wonderful, and exhilaratingly speedy, world of letterpress. The day began in the cellar, with some exciting Arab action. (Participants weren’t able to run the Arab, but were able to watch it work as Nick printed the first colour for the cards they were later to print.)
Then it was up four flights of stairs to the library for some typesetting. Lovely, lovely typesetting. Participants had thought beforehand about what text to set, and had the choice of four typefaces to use in their cards.
Each had a compositing stick, a galley (a galley is a steel tray much like a baking tray, but you wouldn’t want to eat your dinner off it) and furniture and quoins for their forme.
Then it was time to ‘lock up’ and put the chases in the Adana.
Everybody seemed really chuffed with the end results.
Please keep your eyes open for more information on future workshops.
