editoradmin
Trainer Removes Liddle’s Chestnuts From Conflagration
RICHMOND HILL, N.Y.
Several pieces of perforating rule generously supplied by George Trainer pulled the chestnuts out of the fire for would-be commercial printer Fred Liddle on a recent Sunday afternoon.
On the day in question. Liddle had a deadline staring him in the face. He had printed 1,500 raffle tickets on Saturday and planned to perforate them in a separate pass through the press on Sunday.
Although he arose at the crack of dawn on Sunday, Liddle’s plans went awry when he couldn’t locate a length of perforating rule he had squirreled away in early 1970. A thorough search of the shop failed to turn up the rule and Liddle was seriously considering suicide until he recalled that George Trainer lived a scant eight miles away. George assured Fred he would be happy to provide him with the necessary rule so he hung up the phone and raced down to Richmond Hill in the Sunday traffic.
As befitting a past President of NAPA, George insisted that Liddle relax and visit in the publishing office of The Empire. Warding off several vicious assaults by the family dog, Liddle descended the cellar stairs to Trainer’s shop and was forced to drink beer with his host while they discussed ajay affairs. Generous to a fault, George not only provided more than enough perforating rule, but also gifted his guest with several decorative borders cast on Ludlow slugs.
With loot clutched tightly in his hands, Liddle returned to Floral Park and immediately locked a piece of rule in the chase. He then went to his type cabinet to put away the extra pieces against the day he might need them.
And there, in pristine splendor, lay the length of the rule he had spent the morning searching for.
Oh well.
Mystery Shrouds 1973 NAPA Convention Site
NEW YORK, N.Y.
The prop at The Rhatt Phincke Press recently received an unsolicited communication from the Convention Manager of the Hotel McAlpin, world famous New York watering hole.
This gentleman declared that the McAlpin will be happy to place its facilities at the disposal of the National Amateur Press Association for convention fun and frolics. He sent several brochures which depicted in four colors the banquet, grille, bed, and bath rooms of the establishment by which he is employed.
The letter was co-addressed to the editor of this paper and one William F. Haywood, an obscure calligrapher from New Jersey. When queried, Haywood denied contacting the McAlpin. He said he usually patronizes the Hotel Tudor because they serve a larger drink.
Some clues as to the hotel’s motivation is the notation in the lower left hand corner of the letter that a copy was sent to William F. Boys of Columbus, Ohio. Members of the so-called “inner circle” expressed fears that Rev. Boys might be engaging in Machiavellian machinations.
Paper Mine Raided
GLEN RIDGE, N.J.
Sheldon C. Wesson, genial branch manager at Al Frank’s East, recently put in a new supply of quality printing paper but it didn’t get a chance to gather dust on his shelves.
The editor of this paper heard that Wesson had acquired offcut from the shop of the late Edward Cole and less than 24 hours after the latter returned from Massachusetts, Liddle made his midnight requisition.
Ostensibly in Glen Ridge for a party in honor of Leslie W. (Tex) Boyer, Liddle’s primary motive was to relieve Wesson of some fine paper… to prove he could print on something other than topsham.
Phinckelosophy: Old ajays never die… they just smell that way!
National Calamity is published and printed by Fred Liddle, Floral Park, N.Y. 11001