Students will be introduced to the ancient art of typesetting. The process works like this: the student will set a line of type or more by removing by hand metal type from a California Type Case and then place it into a composing stick, one letter at a time. When that is complete, the type form is then removed from the composing stick and then placed carefully into a chase and tightened up by wood or metal furniture. Finally it is secured into the chase bed of a Chandler & Price Pilot Press. Now the printing may begin. Students will experience the sensation of moving the handle of the press to make an impression on to a card. Students are expected to bring their ideas of any small printing project: business card, note card, short poem, short announcement, letterhead. Students are encouraged to bring their own paper, but there are many kinds of papers available in the studio at little or no cost.
Fee: $100 per student
Letterpress printing for the new millenium. Students will have hands on experience of creating a two-second negative from a computer printout vellum sheet. From there, a polymer plate is made in approximately five minutes, all from a UV light box. The student will then wash out the plate, dry it out, and then cure it. From there, the plate is secured on to an aluminum base and then placed into the bed of a SP15 Vandercook and the printing will then begin.
Fee: $150 per student (no extra fee for polymer plate and negative. Students are allowed to bring their own negative, emulsion side down, right to left reading)
Joe
High School English Teacher (Typesetting & Platen Press Operation)
“Setting metal like in the Gutenberg days and the whole job can be done in one afternoon--typesetting and printing.”
Susi
Graphic Designer (Poor Man’s/Woman’s Photopolymer Platemaking and Vandercook Class)
“I'm amazed that the artwork-negative-plate-print can be done so quickly.”
Richard Meneely, proprietor of the U.S. Business Card Company since 1986, most reknown as the on-the-spot letterpress printer at the M.S. 44 Flea Market on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in New York City. He has printed for such luminaries as Sandy Duncan, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, and Yevgeny Yevtushenko. Additionally, he has a customer list of over 1000. Richard offers an entire range of letterpress printing, but has the sole international distinction of printing from recycled breakfast cereal boxes. He was also a per diem instructor at New York's Center for the Book Arts and taught Typesetting and Hand Press Operation from 2001-2006.
Equipment rentals for the student who has demonstrated minimum proficiency upon completion of two classes, or anyone who already has the requisite skills.
Generally, the Pilot Press and Vandercook are available for rental. Renters are expected to leave the studio as they found it.
Fee: $25 per day (8 hour maximum). Any day.
Letterpress classes for New Jersey residents (New Yorkers, too). Saturday at 1 pm - 5 pm in Union City’s historic Silk Factory building (not far from the Lincoln Tunnel). No prior experience necessary.
201.863.8776
usbcards@earthlink.net
www.usbcards.net
U.S. Business Card Company
540 39th Street
Building 9, 3rd floor, #6
Union City, New Jersey 07087
Directions will be emailed upon request.
NJ Transit Buses 159 & 154 from Port Authority; Bus 22 from Hoboken; ask about all NJ Transit buses coming from all points of New Jersey.
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