Last Year. . .

Letterpress Things was closed for over 6 months as we experienced a number of medical issues.  By year’s end, being reasonably healthy again, we opted to have not just a “brick and mortar” facility but to upgrade its physical presence.  Therein, we set about to reorganize the “floor”, create a “front end” and maximize “horizontal” display space. That effort has resulted in a fresh new look and 300+ square feet for product display.  And it must be mentioned that after 19 years of shivering through the winter, a heating system was recently installed by the building owner, adding to everyone’s comfort (especially mine).

Along with the physical upgrade, we recognized the need for a more defined focus to our role in the letterpress community. Occasionally during last year’s convalescence we’d contemplate all the “things” a small press printer needed and used to set-up and print. And we’d wonder - could those items not on hand be sourced and made available for purchase? The response was - for sure and we are! So moving forward, more emphasis is to be focused on “Table Top Printing” - presses, supplies, the ‘printer’, etc.  In the past few weeks “new” letterpress items have been added to the floor inventory. This includes both individual items, and for the first time, assembled “kits” and “packages”.

The initial plan was to first introduce additional items and assembled kits on the floor, get some feedback. And then expand to the website. But with the Corona-virus situation, a trip to the store is out of the question, and may be for a while. Speaking bluntly, we’ve a real need to generate sales. The rent and bills will continue to come due. Over the next week to 10 days more items and some kits will be posted here on the website.  We ask you to look them over, decide what you might want/need, and email an order in. Our fervent desire is to keep the store open and functioning for that day we can all get out and around again. If you’ve visited the 4th floor, be it once or often, you know what a wonderful experience a trip to/a day in Letterpress Things is. Your support now would be most appreciated!  

John and JoAnn  

Open Date this Saturday. . .

February 15th - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our 2nd Open Date this month; extended forecast is good weather, just a bit chilly. Items highlighted for this Saturday - Finishing Press; Furniture Cab with contents, Wood Type Font; Craftsman Press; lot of music instrument plates; reglet kit. And much, much more. Stop by, say hi! JB

Open Date this Saturday. . .

February 1st — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Been busy reorganizing the Supplies Table - the focal point of the entire store. Start at lower left corner, walk completely around the perimeter, pick up the items you need/want as you go.

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Recently added P-22’s type gauge Multi-tool; a must have for sorting type/spacers.

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On hand for this Saturday are fonts of Centaur newly cast by Swamp Press.

BRAND NEW never before used — bright and shiny and waiting to be locked up and used
30 point and 36 point

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Special ornament and type fonts from Letterpress Thing’s extensive inventory;

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a Kelsey 5 x 8 press;
and lots more.

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Come on by, it’s warm on the fourth floor now.

Yet another med op. . .

couldn’t leave 2019 without another medical copay payment. Day after Christmas had to have a stent inserted for maintenance of one of the kidneys. Healing well, catching up on paperwork and making plans for January/February. This Saturday, the 4th, scheduled Open Date; weather looks to be mild, a little rain Friday night.

Appreciate the many letterpress printed Christmas greetings received. Love seeing them! Can’t say I’m sorry to leave 2019; it’s been a helluva year. 2020 lies ahead, filled with promise of good times, good things and most of all, good heath. Happy New Year! JB

Press Supplies

We’ve been moving forward with updating the web site. The first revised Page - Press Supplies - has been posted. Now available are the basic items used by letterpressers. Ordering instructions are at the bottom of the Page. Soon to be posted will be the updated Pages for Cabinets and Machinery.

Local Yuletide Event. . .

Again this year we’ve been invited to participate in the Storrowton Village Museum’s annual Yuletide Program. The event, a week long winter festival from December 7-14, 2019, brings the community together to celebrate the season with traditional Yuletide activities, entertainment and shopping in the historic Village. Yuletide Weekend is December 7-8 from 11 am to 4 pm each day. Activities are free, and feature ice sculpting, 19th century trades, livestock demonstrations, even a chance to visit with Santa.

Among the 19th century trades being demonstrated will be letterpress printing. We’ll be located in the Greenwich Barn with our little print shop complete with hand press, type cabinet, type, paper and ink. And in period dress no less! Conversation for the two days will be all about letterpress with a lot of show and tell, even a bit of hands-on too. Storrowton, a vibrant historic community, celebrates the Holiday season with activities and the decor of another era of New England life. Plan a day to observe, participate and enjoy!

2018 Yuletide - Storrowton Village Museum - West Springfield, MA

Our 19th Anniversary. . .

Tomorrow is Letterpress Things's 19th Anniversary on the fourth floor.

Stop in for a snack, some supplies and lively letterpress conversation.

To celebrate we're going to have something not experienced during the winter since we moved in.

HEAT!!

A new gas-fired heating system is presently being installed throughout the building.

HOORAY!!

If you’ve visited in the cooler months, you know it can be downright chilly.

Wood Type

Another dozen or so incomplete fonts have been added to the tables. This is a good chance to pick up some decent fonts at very reasonable prices.

Upcoming November Open Dates

November 23rd & November 30th. Hours 9 am to 3 pm

as time passes, we have accumulated a number of “broken” fonts, fonts missing a character or two, and boxes of orphans. It’s time to dispose of them. If you’re interested in wood type, and could work around a missing character, come by and check out what’s on hand.

On November 23rd, the sale of Incomplete Fonts continues and we pause to reflect on our 19th Anniversary of serving the letterpress community from the fourth floor.

The 30th is on Thanksgiving Weekend — “Black Friday” and “Small Business Saturday”. If you’re coming home to the Springfield area for the holiday, or visiting friends or relatives in the area, stop in and pickup some “things” for your letterpresser (or for yourself). Gift Certificates available.

We're back in Chicopee. . .

Hi, back from an enjoyable and very successful Printer’s Fair at the International Printing Museum in Carson, CA. Mark Barbour, Sara and all the volunteers are to be thanked and complimented on yet another great letterpress event! And special thanks to our many friends who came by to chat; your kind words and support for myself (and JoAnn) was truly appreciated. This trip we spent extra time with our son, John (who lives in Long Beach) just relaxing and checking out a few local attractions (and restaurants)!

Once back the first order of business was to clean up the “mess”; gathering and packing over 600 lbs of supplies and “things” to ship for the Fair left the place a bit disheveled. Our emphasis now for the next Open Date, November 9th, is on wood type - incomplete fonts, alpha fonts and orphans. Behind the scenes we’d been sorting and organizing wood type fonts for years now. Complete fonts were always put out and sold as we went along. But as time passed we accumulated a number of “broken” fonts, fonts missing a character or two, and boxes of orphans. It’s time to dispose of them. If you’re interested in wood type, and could work around a missing character, come by and check out what’s on hand.

We're setting up at. . .

The LA Printer's Fair at the Carson,CA-located Museum. All our packages/units have arrived. Friday, October 18th, we check in, begin to unpack and stage what will be 4+ tables of type, supplies, etc. for Saturday morning's opening at 10 am.

This year, a variety of "early" and unusual letterpress implements were brought along for collectors of letterpress paraphernalia. Items like quoins: Nottings; Zims; Hancocks (all with keys); end and form locks; pulls; label holders and circular quad — as well as the usual everyday supplies we all need.

Take a closer look at the photo, there's some real neat "things" to peak your interest! If you’re in the region, make plans to visit the event and stop by our booths to say hello.

The “ole” man’s heading West…

Finished gathering stuff for the Los Angeles Printer's Fair at The International Printing Museum, 315 W Torrance Blvd, Carson, CA 90745

Six long days organizing, inventorying and pricing. Filled two large gaylords with boxes of supplies all securely packed to travel cross country.

Once the unit was shrunk wrapped and banded, a trucker was called and off it went. Next time it's seen we'll be unpacking and setting up tables at the Fair on Saturday, October 19th and Sunday the 20th.

Hope we'll see you there!

Jo and JB

More catching up!

Continuing to log in items brought in earlier in the year and things recently purchased. Supplies we’re low on have been replaced. A never ending task is to replenish lead/slug and furniture inventory for assembling kits and filling requests. Just on-going chores that are boring, dry out the fingers and get the hands filthy. Also starting to gather and organize stuff to be packed and shipped to Carson, CA for the up-coming Printers Fair. More detail about that event next post. Open this Saturday the 12th; come on by!

We'll be open. . .

for the first time since May on Saturday, September 28th (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). The accumulated dust is being swept off the table and counters. Some newly boxed fonts of type are out for preview, several dozen cases of type have been added to inventory, a variety of wood type alpha fonts have been assembled, and several dozen plates/cuts are available. Plus, if you’re seeking a press to get started with, a Kelsey 5 x 8 and a Sigwalt 6 x 9, both ready-to-print, await your interest. But more importantly, even if you don’t need or want any “things”, it would be great to see you and catch up. Take a day trip to beautiful Western Mass; the leaves have started to change. An added bonus: “The Big E” - the Eastern States Exposition - in West Springfield is open for the weekend. A great Fall attraction.

I'm back. . . finally

It’s been a long, at times very dark, 5 month journey. Started in March with major dental work followed with open heart surgery May 22nd. Second week of July started passing a kidney stone. Through the next six weeks a total of six stones, one the size of an acorn, were removed with three laser lithotripsy operations. Last week was finally cleared by the urologist — I’m stone free at last! But even more significantly, last Friday I was discharged from the cardiac recovery program. Going to be on blood thinners for a bit, but normal activities can be resumed. Indeed, my stamina and strength are minimal; next week will begin an exercise regime to rebuild both.

I feel reinvigorated! Need to pace myself of course, and I will for sure. But it feels so great to be finished, up and about, and getting back to doing letterpress things. I’d be remiss not to acknowledge the many messages, cards, “likes”, thoughts and prayers from so many in the letterpress community. Your support has been truly humbling. More especially, I need to express my love and admiration to JoAnn. It was she who attended to my needs day and night through many hours of uncertainty and stress. “Well done.” my dear!

Upcoming “events” - Won’t be attending the Lancaster (PA) Printers Fair on Saturday, September 21st. A really great regional event, sorry to miss it. Instead JoAnn and I will take in the Museum of Printing’s Printers Fair in Haverhill, MA, September 21st. In October we’ll be set up at the International Museum of Printing in Carson, CA on Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th.

And finally - Open Dates. Working on a schedule now; will post shortly here on the website, on Facebook and Letpress. Online sales will resume soon; working on a website update also. Stay tuned. JB

July's over. . .

. . . and the hot, humid stretch that’s a hallmark of a New England summer has broken.

Went to the store today; walked (slowly) up the four flights, unlocked the door and whoa, the heat was stifling. The windows were opened and will remain so until there’s rain in the forecast.

In a few days the floor temperature should be back down in the 70’s. The high/low thermometer, reset May 20th, recorded a high of a 100, low of 83!

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During the shutdown, the City of Chicopee came in and rebuilt the road: new culverts; drains; paving and a sidewalk with a good ramp. Moving stuff in and out will be much smoother now.

Improvements a long time needed.

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The heart recovery continues very well; scheduled next week to have the kidney stone removed. Recovery just a few days. Lifting, pushing stuff around will still be restricted.

Already working to revamp the web site. Hope to have it back up and functioning at least on a limited basis end of August. Two months down, about another month to go. JB

Biding Time!

Surgery was performed May 22nd; 10 days in the hospital. Quadruple by-pass and an ascending aorta repair. Had a few rough days. Seven weeks now after the procedure; recovery is going well, started driving a week ago. Prior to surgery was preparing to have two kidney stones removed. Two weeks ago one started its trip to daylight. A small one but hurt like hell couple of times; not quite out yet. Soon, hopefully!

So what do you do when you can’t lift a finger. . . read, walk, Roku, exercise bike; repeat often, Weather has been decent, able to be outside quite a bit. Have always wanted to take a summer off; just not like this though.

We’d be remiss to not acknowledge the many, many “likes”, comments, cards from the letterpress community. Your good wishes have been “heart” warming, most appreciated! So wonderful to hear from so many “letterpressers” that we’ve met, served and come to know the past four decades!

Finally...

our surgery is scheduled for May 15th!

We’ve been a bit vague about what “our” pending surgery is all about. Family and friends have urged me to finally detail what’s going on. Simply stated, we’re undergoing an open heart procedure for a number of “restrictions” and an aneurysm. Previously planned for March 27th, it was postponed the evening before. An infection was detected, traced to a tooth; as a result 8 teeth ended up being removed. And, an unfortunate aftermath of the extractions was a perforated sinus. All is well at the moment; we’ve healed to where the cardiac team is comfortable going ahead with the procedure on the 15th. We’ve begun the count down and preparation for the second time. I am truly ready!!

This med procedure will have an impact on sales and operations of Letterpress Things for a few months. Word is no driving for 5/6 weeks. No walking up the 4 flights of stairs, opening/closing the elevator doors, and lifting no more than 10 pounds until at least 9/10 weeks out. Follows anticipated times/details through the recovery period:

Open Date — Saturday, May 11th - Last scheduled Open Date until the middle the of August. By early August we hope to have a schedule posted for new Saturday Open Dates for later in August and beyond.

Web Site/Internet orders for supplies, etc. — we anticipate starting to fill orders again by the first of August. July the store is insufferably hot so little labor will be done until first of August. But the upside of so much down time will be organizing and updating the web site’s pages.

Saturday, May 11th — the past few weeks have seen a lot of processing of type, plates, cabinets, presses and machines, supplies and kits/packages. There’s a lot of “first seen” items out on the floor; have just needed to get stuff out from the back room, the 3rd floor and the dark corners. On the OPEN DATES PAGE various items available the 11th will be listed. Time won’t permit us to post many photos. But there are photos of items in the list that have code numbers; happy to upload them if interested. Do bear in mind, Saturday, May 11th is the last Open Date for several months. All sales will need to be taken that day.

Latest Med Update

The source of an infection which postponed last week’s surgery has been found to be a tooth. Extraction end of the week means this Saturday’s Open Date is cancelled. Check back for new date.

Med Update

Since last October we’ve been waiting to get some surgery done. A number of times a procedure has been scheduled only to be postponed shortly before it’s date. The latest was Tuesday (3/26) when an infection was detected at the last minute. This “on again - off again” pattern has reeked havoc with the Barrett’s home life, our commercial business and Letterpress Things. Open Dates have been juggled about for several months now in an effort to maintain some sense of consistency. More importantly, we’ve tried hard to continue responding to and processing internet and website orders in the usual two to three day turn. Have slipped a couple of times for which we apologize; through it all our thanks and appreciation to the letterpress community for your continued support. It’s really great serving you! We’ll continue to post updates here to let you know when the surgery is completed and the Open Date schedule going forward. For the moment our next Open Date is April 6th. Hope to see you! JB

Happy New Year!

Our first open date of the new year is this Saturday, January 5th. Over the holidays, we continued to work on expanding on-the-floor displays and processing type and things. Recent weather related issues have been a distraction. Ongoing heavy rain storms with high winds have wreaked havoc on the roof and elevator operation. Repairs have been made and all seems better now, but time and nature will tell.

2018 for the Barrett’s was a year of ups and downs! From travels to various events, meeting new letterpressers and renewing past acquaintances to some some significant medical and mechanical misfortunes. But 2019 is a clean slate, here’s hoping for smooth travels and great health for the year. Of course it’s winter now and it does get chilly on the 4th floor. Occasionally the windows frost up here’s the view recently looking west over the Mt. Tom range.-JB