The Idiosyncrasies of Letterpress Printing

The other day, I (Christina) had the delightful opportunity to try out a Kelsey Excelsior Model U 5x8 Letterpress at Heritage Place Museum. This little unit may be small but it is mighty! 

Kelsey Company, based in Meriden, Connecticut, was known for producing a range of tabletop letterpresses starting from the late 19th century. The Excelsior line, including the Model U I was working with, became particularly well-regarded for its quality and reliability among printers and enthusiasts. That holds true even 120 years later.

With the help of Ian McTavish, teacher, and lead of the Robotics Team at Huntsville High School, we made a woodblock carving of the museum’s logo using the school’s laser cutter, to print with this press.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to secure the block in the chase, the museum doesn’t have a complete set of tools and accessories to go along with this machine. I was thinking two-way tape or something like that because I knew there was no key or quoins. To my surprise, the block fit perfectly within the chase with just two small pieces of furniture to hold it in place. I found it interesting how the chase (the frame that holds the type/image block) on this press has built-in tighteners so quoins and a key (the tools that hold the furniture, type/image in place) aren’t required like they often are with other letterpresses. 

I enthusiastically dove right in, slapped some ink on the plate, secured the block in the chase, and pulled down on that handle - with an audience of museum staff eagerly standing by to witness the magic unfold before their eyes. Alas, magic didn’t exactly unfold but a big black inky mess did, haha.

It seemed like the ink was going everywhere but the woodblock. Thankfully my husband, Mike, came with me. Between the two of us, we began to figure out the nuances of this simple, yet complex machine. We added more packing to the platen, we tightened and loosened screws. We discovered there were a few missing pieces and realized the woodblock needed to be adjusted as well.

As I prepare to lead a workshop at the museum next week, armed with newfound knowledge and (some) solutions, I look forward to sharing the joy and intricacies of letterpress printing with eager participants. Despite a few setbacks, I am confident that learning about this press and how it was used in its glory days will enhance the experience and appreciation for this historic printing method. Who knows, maybe with a bit more practice, the next pull of that handle will indeed reveal the magic we all anticipated.

If you’re interested in participating, you can register here!