Oneof the closest places to experience letterpress printing is at the BlackCountry Living Museum, who have their own print shop, producing bespoke itemsfor use in the Museum.
“Youmight be expecting a high street jobbing printers, but actually 'our' exhibitwas operated from an ordinary garden shed. Besides a small Cropper 'Peerless'clamshell type press, all we have is a small proofing press, a couple of theubiquitous Adana tabletop presses (see http://www.adanaprintingmachines.co.uk/?gclid=CNqAw6y2gawCFQ8ntAodKUfnKw) and a label maker. Even so, I think the range of work produced over the past five years, since the exhibit was opened, will impress you.” said StephenHoward Assistant Curator Black Country Living Museum.
The print shop at the Museum was originally located behind an ordinary house, 1 LaburnamRoad Bilston, the workshop was built in 1936 by Mr Robert James to house sometype benches and a press he bought second hand . For nearly 60 years he usedhis home and this shed as a base for printing, photography, poster design andsign painting, supplementing his wage as a compositor at Wilkes Ltd printers inBilston. He was 80s he was still going out to meet his customers on a batteredold bicycle.
Mr James had trained at Bilston Art College,then, he served a traditional apprenticeship at Wooley’s (est 1913), anotherBilston printers still trading to this day.
The shed and its contents were donated to themuseum by Mr James’ family in 1998
“KenDworak, our printer, has benefited from expert tuition by a local printer inGordon Street Wolverhampton, John Neave, who was taught traditional typesettingat Wolverhampton College of Art. John is still in business today and doesletterpress work from time to time using his beloved Heidelberg” Stephen Howardcontinued.
Tofind out more about Wolverhampton printer John Neave visit:
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TheMuseum is offering Visual Communication students reduced entry fee of £7.10, onproduction of student identification card. The print workshop is open onMonday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Formore information about the museum visit:
At time of posting, TheBlack Country Living Museum is investigating the possibility of running aspecialist letterpress workshop for Visual Communications students. More detailto follow.
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