At Libre Livre we have over 370 individual trays of type, virtually all of it vintage. Much of it arrived in our workshop ill sorted and labeled. Sorting, cleaning and recording all this has been a major job. Just numbering each tray has taken ages, but this week I producd a first cut report of our type inventory, sorted by font, by tray and by size.
Despite the range of type we hold, (Dorechester script, Times New Roman, Glouster, Bodoni, Palace, Falstaffa and Runic Condensed to name but a few) Libre Livre specialises producing work in that most beautiful of fonts, Gill Sans Serif*. Eric Gill lived for years just a few miles from our workshop in Lewes, and it seems entirely appropriate for us to celebrate the connection.
Although this type was first cut by Eric Gill, it is rooted in history: the capitals being based on monumental Roman script, and the lower case on the Carolingian script in wide use between the years 800 and 1200.
* - for those who do not know, the "serif" is the small, often triangular "tails" seen on the ends of many fonts (such as the one used ofr this blog): a "sans serif" font is stripped of such intricacy and appears clear and fresh on the page.
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
An Honourary Apprentice
Over the Bank Holiday weekend Libre Livre was lucky enough to employ the services of an apprentice, Thomas.
Thomas, who is studying economics at Uni, had never printed before, but ink flows through his veins, and before the day was out he was happily churning out headed notepaper on one of our Adanas. Not only that, but he produced for himself some very smart cards - and if they don't impress a few of his fellow economists I can't imagine what will.
All good things must come to an end, even apprenticeships, so although I detected an enthusiasm to join the Libre Livre team, at the end of his visit Thomas had to head back to his studies. We wish him well and hope he will be joining us again before long.
Thomas, who is studying economics at Uni, had never printed before, but ink flows through his veins, and before the day was out he was happily churning out headed notepaper on one of our Adanas. Not only that, but he produced for himself some very smart cards - and if they don't impress a few of his fellow economists I can't imagine what will.
All good things must come to an end, even apprenticeships, so although I detected an enthusiasm to join the Libre Livre team, at the end of his visit Thomas had to head back to his studies. We wish him well and hope he will be joining us again before long.
Friday, 15 August 2008
The Napolean of Binding
A few years ago I bought a second hand guillotine, a Dahle, with a spare blade. Since then it has stood in a corner of my workshop, barely ever used. I have, however, finally got round to getting the spare blade sharpened and yesterday I fitted it.
What a job! The blade is literally razor sharp and about 18 inches long - better not to think about the consequences if it dropped on wrist or finger - which has to be pushed up a very tight slot before it can be screwed into position. The only way to lever it up this slot was balanced on the ends of two allen keys alternately jerked sharply upwards. It took me two hours, and one nicked finger.
Despairing at one stage of ever managing to get the wretched thing back into place I rang a friend of mine who is by way of being an expert on odd jobs like this. Her husband put it very succinctly "damn things those Dahle's they've got so many saftey devices you can hardly get at 'em"
Turing to another subject altogether, BT are still trying to sort out my web-site desing problem (see A Great IT Blog for more details)
What a job! The blade is literally razor sharp and about 18 inches long - better not to think about the consequences if it dropped on wrist or finger - which has to be pushed up a very tight slot before it can be screwed into position. The only way to lever it up this slot was balanced on the ends of two allen keys alternately jerked sharply upwards. It took me two hours, and one nicked finger.
Despairing at one stage of ever managing to get the wretched thing back into place I rang a friend of mine who is by way of being an expert on odd jobs like this. Her husband put it very succinctly "damn things those Dahle's they've got so many saftey devices you can hardly get at 'em"
Turing to another subject altogether, BT are still trying to sort out my web-site desing problem (see A Great IT Blog for more details)
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