What are we moving, anyway?
G. Johanson, Printer, is expanding his facilities. . . . the hard way. Not a new and spacious building, but rather, a small storage room just big enough to fit my "new" 1915 New Series 10x15 C&P Platen Job Press, as they used to call them, and sharing the same space, a 28" C&P Craftsman paper cutter. To further take up space we also included a 3/4" Acme Wire "Book Stitcher".
The paper cutter isn't really all that old, it only needs to be cleaned up and oiled. Same with the Acme wire stitcher. The press needs a bit more than cleaning. This press has seen it's share of mileage, and needs some cosmetic attention, deep cleaning, the oil ports need to be checked to ensure positive oiling, the motor needs to be rebuilt (I have a rebuilt motor already to substitute in case the original motor becomes a protracted project), the rails need to be checked for level and consistent depth side to side and "fore & aft". Also needed are new rollers, and I must find a larger imposing stone. My graded iron type bed, used for imposing for my 8x12 is too small, now.
The 10x15 has a split ink disk, which means two concentric disks that turn opposite directions, although they are connected without a differential gear, so they turn together, which is my preference. I am not a huge fan of the split disk, but not opposed to it's presence by any means. The inside disk sometimes collects moisture, and must be taken apart fairly regularly here in Florida to prevent possible introduction of rust, which I have seen down here before with these kinds of disks.
This press has an ink fountain! I have to remove it, clean it out, and find a connecting rod for the ink roller ratchet. This is something that I am looking forward to because my other, smaller C&P must be stopped now and then for a re-application of ink as it gets used up. With large areas of ink transfer from the dies, this can be every one hundred impressions sometimes!
I have a counter that is ready for re-habbing that will fit nicely on this press, and I will be reconstructing new tables to replace the worn and separating originals.
This press also has a power drive pulley. Until the motor gets restored, I'll be belting my 1.5hp GE that was just re-packed, re-sanded, re-wound, re-capped and re-painted to the flywheel in the interim. Somewhere, I need to find 2" wide flat leather drive belt.
The Move:
On September 15th, just before my birthday, some of the guys from the college ministry I work with decided to gift me with their help, hauling these items from downtown Orlando to Orange City, 30 miles northward. One of these fellas is an aviation mechanic and regularly hauls and loads very precious cargo weighing similarly (read: tonnage), and is experienced in moving this sort of thing. The other three guys, myself included, basically followed his orders. He brought along his own pallet jack. Tell me if that wasn't preparation? And helping out the guys was Tess. Tess is the gal that shot the video, and part of our crew.
The video was processed as a high density mpeg, and choked both YouTube and Vimeo, although the total file size of the original edit was only half the maximum acceptable. Thus, these videos will be released in parts. Part one shows us rigging and loading, the next part will be the tying down in the truck, and the third will be - hopefully - the unloading and installation.
Why did we shoot this video, where there are so gosh-darn many "moving the Letterpress" videos out there already? It's to record the great time we had, for just ourselves. We had a lot of fun, and frankly, sorta partied as we did this. Here we go:
It was a lot of fun, and I owe a lot, or rather, G. Johanson, Letterpress Printer owes a lot to these guys, and folks behind the scenes. Thanks Chris, Josh, Jimmy, Tess, Colin (on part 3), and Jared O., not featured, but who had my 1.5 hp motor rebuilt and restored. You are all part of the Ministry of G. Johanson, Printer!
So, that's it for now. My latest installment. And what will we do with all this equipment that has effectively, doubled my small shop's size?
. . . . stay tuned!
I remain, your most humble and obedient Servant,
-g.
