At Livingston Letterpress, most of our products are printed on this antique press, affectionately called Oliver by our family. The press is a 1911 Old Style Chandler & Price 10x15, powered by a foot treadle.  Ink colors are mixed by hand and applied to the ink disk. The studio is a lovely space filled with antique and vintage printing equipment.

Oversized prints can be made on the Potter Cylinder Press named Harry. Type is arranged in the bed, hand inked with a brayer and then pressed to the paper as one rotates the handle moving the bed under the cylinder. Mertie, the table top press built in 1890, with hand coiled springs and delicate pin-stripping, is small enough to be mobile and available for printing experiences away from the studio. Ernest, the vintage foil stamper built by Ernest Schaefer, once used to put gold initials on luggage or pencils now embellishes stationary.

Letterpress printing was developed in the 14th century and remains a beautiful art form today. The process begins with wooden or metal type that is handset in reverse and locked into a metal frame, or chase, held in place by wooden strips called furniture. The frame is placed in the press and the text is inked. The text is then pressed into the surface of the paper, transferring the ink and perhaps making an impression that can be felt in the thick paper.

To create more intricate and unique designs, the modern world enters this antiquated process in the form of polymer plates. This method involves designing an image on a computer and turning the design into a polymer plate with a raised image that functions the same as the wooden or metal type. Opening up endless possibilities of fonts and images. Most of the wedding suites are printed using this technique.

Creative experiences and treasured printed pieces are created here.