editoradmin
Salmagundi
IT’S BEEN SO LONG since the last Echo that I hesitate to look at my files and determine when it was. Fortunately, AAPA doesn’t have an activity requirement or I would have been booted out years ago.
This 93rd Echo has been started several times over the past couple years. I’ve set, and now distributed, two or three pages of copy which is no longer topical. One piece concerned some well-deserved applause for the 100-issue achievements of Charlie Bush, Fred Liddle, and Walt Brovald. There was also a piece about Russ Paxton and his many contributions to the American. I’m a fan of all those gentlemen and their hobby papers, and my failure to participate in those special bundles does not mean a lack of enthusiasm for their efforts.
The commencement of AAPA’s 50th year has gotten my attention. I’ve been a member long enough to have an appreciation of the historical aspects, having joined back in 1943. The fourth issue of The Echo, printed on a rubber type Swiftset press, featured a rather pretentious cover statement in September that year: “Onward – to many more birthdays! 7th Anniversary of Founding of AAPA.” Back in those days the American was so new that we were quite aware of our beginnings.
There are other indications of the passage of time. My birthday seems to show up every 3 or 4 months. And there has been a big increase in mailings from such institutions as the American Association of Retired Persons. I’ve even joined AARP, although my fraulein will quickly tell you that I’ve not retired, as attested by six long days at the office each week. Craig, our 21-year-old, has also received mailings from AARP, which makes us wonder how they develop their mailing lists.
One pleasant aspect of advancing age is that I’m eligible for Senior Citizen discounts at such places as Denny’s Restaurants. We stopped at a Denny’s in Cheyenne, Wyoming this past summer, while on a vacation trip, and noted that age 55 was the point of eligibility for less expensive and smaller portion meals. Elaine – who is somewhat younger than I – was a bit insulted, though, when the waitress also served her a Senior Citizen’s meal, without inquiring as to her age.
Quite a bit of mail shows up concerning private press or limited edition books for sale, covering some aspect of printing history, typography, and the like. I suspect that the American Printing History Association is making its membership list available for such mailings, and that’s OK. The books usually appear to be quite classy, with prices to match. I didn’t have any trouble turning down a book from Sweden awhile back. The price was 590 (dollars, I think). If you’re interested, I’ll be glad to send you my brochure.
AAPA member Kuyk (Pronounced “Kirk”) Logan, former Managing Editor of the Houston Post, is now Managing Editor of Houston’s Channel 11. They had a tidbit awhile back about the messy desks of several people there, and included a shot of Kuyk’s desk for contrast. He’s definitely a clean desk man, with aa uncluttered a desk top as one could imagine. My secretary would like Kuyk to give me some lessons sometime.
As some of you know, a Christmas present to me from Mrs. Santa in 1984 was a new electric typewriter (Smith-Corona Memory Correct 200). After pounding away on an old standard all these years, I’m having a heckuva time adjusting to this electric job. There are mistakes in almost every line I type. It has a “Word Eraser” system, but I go through the white correction tape as fast as the black tape (only slight exaggeration).
Bob Orbach
Elaine and I stayed overnight in Oklahoma City back in August at the beginning of a vacation trip to Kansas and Colorado. I had recently exchanged short letters with Bob, but didn’t think to give him a call until the next morning, just as we were about to drive away our sister-in-law’s place to start the next leg of the trip.
Bob was at his office, but insisted we look in. (“It’s on your way.”) It turned out his ritzy suburban clothing store and office were just a few minutes away.
He had finished a press run before leaving for the office, so obviously does a better job of working his hobby printing into his daily routine than most of us (and also has more control over his time and a shorter commute than most of us!).
After a short chat at the office, Bob decided he could break away for awhile, and kindly drove us to his home, five minutes away in a very nice residential area.
His print shop is a dandy. It stretches along one end of the house on the ground level, and the floor is thickly carpeted!
The Flexible Voice has been appearing with monthly regularity since it appeared on the scene a few years ago, and Bob mentioned he has a goal concerning a particular number of monthly issues. He wouldn’t tell us what it is, but it must be at least 100; over 60 issues have already appeared.
Bob is an enthusiastic, engaging guy. Elaine and I headed on toward Kansas with a handful of well printed hobby papers and leaflets (including a coveted copy of “Luxembourg – Christmas, 1944”), a font of type, and pleasant memories.
The Echo is the hobby publication of Les Boyer, Houston, Texas 77079. January, 1986.