The Platen Press Type Sale

Jen,

  This event should be more widely known. A newbie letterpress printer can be confused by the prices for various presses. When I bought a Kelsey 6×10 in 1980, I paid $150, which included a font of type, cabinet with cases, as well as the press. When Kelsey went bankrupt about ten years later, the price of a Kelsey shot up to $750 and has remained there since then. People should realize that although presses are less available now than formerly, there is a difference between West Coast prices (aimed usually at institutional budgets) and Midwest prices (geared toward individual buyers). If you pay more than $1000 for a Kelsey or a Craftsmen (not Craftsman; that’s a floor model, different animal), you’re wasting money. The best source for a reasonably priced tabletop press is a letterpress dealer. Those include Don K. & Craig Black in Canada, John Barrett’s Letterpress Things in Massachusetts, Fritz Klinke at NA Graphics. There are a few who buy entire letterpress shops, such as John Horn and Paul Aken, who frequently offer an unexpected bargain. These are all letterpressmen with long experience, who will charge a reasonable price for what they sell. For typefounders who will cast new type for less than an arm and a leg, check out Richard Hopkins in WVa and Sky Shipley in Arizona. Best rule of thumb is shop around, ask a long-time printer or two. Some will say disregard the tabletops, but with attention to make-ready they will produce as fine an impression as any other press. Anyone want to argue price with me, go right ahead….

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