Not another letterpress October 16, 2007
Ok, so I know I just bought a C&P pilot but while checking out www.briarpress.org, (I can’t help it, this website is addicting) I found someone less than a half mile away from my apartment selling a Poco proof press. What are the chances that someone near me was selling a letterpress? Of course, I had to buy it. The Poco No 2 printing area is alot larger than the pilot so I thought this would be a great second press for me. The size is 18 x 25 so its managable to have in my apartment. The Poco weighs about 406lbs (without the cabinet) so between my boyfriend and my brother they were able to move it (disassembled of course!). Wow did that save me alot of money by not having to hire movers!
The Poco press was made to do “proofs” and according to www.fiveroses.org “not at all suited to careful impression, precision registration, or runs of more than a few copies”. Wanting to learn more about this press I did a google search and found a man by the name of Neil Giroux who uses this press to do precision multi color work. I emailed Neil to see how he did it. He actually engineered a frisket that was able to make a perfect registration. Wanting to help me, he sent me pictures of how the frisket looks and told me I can even stop to see it in person. Goes to show you how helpful and generous the letterpress community is. Everyone I have come across in the letterpress community has been more than willing to give advice.
Below are the pictures Neil sent me to help me with the Poco registration. Check them out!
Cranking the closed form through.
Makeshift roller bearers, set type high, to allow even ink distribution by brayer.
Setting work on “other side” of press.
Notice the hook on the ceiling. No detail left untouched!