Arab Platen Masterclass - video

[Dave Hughes]

This video featuring Graham Moss from Incline Press should be essential viewing for anyone taking up letterpress printing. There's some very useful information which, although demonstrated on an Arab platen, is also applicable to printing on any type of platen press.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pXHf9SZcv0

Although demonstrated on an Arab, all these tips and instructions are equally applicable to any make of platen press, such as an Adana, a Model no 3-6, a Cropper, or a Chandler and Price.

Introduced to the world in the 1870s, Josiah Wade's Anglo-American Arab was still in production over a hundred years later.  Based on the US Gordon clam shell platen, it incorporates several important innovations, all of which makes the Arab a pleasure to use.  Properly used, it is capable of fine printing from business cards to complex book work.

This film, recorded and edited by Brian Clarke (Balscote Press) shows a practical demonstration by Graham Moss in the workshop at Incline Press.  Given extempore, there is some reference to the history of the machine, but the emphasis is on running it properly.

This DVD was first issued by the Oxford Guild of Printers UK.

In sequence, you will see how to
Oil the press
Use the treadle
Replace the tympan
Position the work efficiently
Fill the chase
Ink the press
Lock the forme in place
Set the lays
Adjust impression with packing
Use type-high bearers
Print with rhythm
Washing the press thoroughly clean.

I was intrigued by the printed sign in Graham's print shop:

MANGLING
DONE HERE

Could it be from an old stereotype department? Or am I being too obscure? Or maybe mangling, in this instance, means "messing up?"