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Russell L. Paxton, Printer
1907 – 1988
Wichita Convention
by Jeff Jennings
Creature comforts will mark the Wichita July 1-3 convention with libations to revive the longest traveling. A Sunday picnic catered at a farm in the woods will have gourmet goodies guaranteed. The closing banquet on Monday evening at the Ramada Inn at Broadview will be followed by a July Fourth Red Cross bus to Cowtown, Indian Center Pow Wow and WSU Cessna Stadium fireworks with a wind-up matinee on the 5th.
Detail confirmation and assignments awaits a first face to face meeting of Kermit Schuman and Jeff Jennings at the end of March.
The Air Capitol, with its Mid-Continent Airport, may even qualify as the Youth Capitol; if so, press hams will have contributed significantly. The Wright brothers, of course; then a onetime New York press hams official adopted Kansas as his Land of Oz where little Dorothy in her storm cellar found the yellow brick road leading to the singing of Over the Rainbow. The foray of Carrie Nation saying NO to alcohol addiction, and William Allen White, with Mary’s help at the Emporia Gazette, were idealistically exceeded by press ham, Charles M. Sheldon, whose In His Steps sold more than any book since the Bible and Pilgrim’s Progress.
Of course Willametta Keffer was born in the state, Bill Haywood got his Daily Newsroom resplendence from the world’s largest westernwear emporium in Wichita, and the state printery registered the early expertise of Ralph Babcock, who has renewed his interest in capturing school paper journalists for our lifetime hobby Friends U. It is the flagship of a 17-Quaker college link-up pleased to attract 3 of 5 top SAT achievers nationally.
Business will be taken up during the mornings of the three days, with time off for 3-way worship on Sunday provided for in the planning; forums in the afternoon will feature local handpress printers, computer workshop people, and sci-fi workshopping worthy of our Helen and Horvat. It will be show and tell for each convention attendant to share with auction items, paper samples, writings, pictures, slides and artifactual items.
Kermit says the hotel restaurant is good, and that a McDonald’s is a short walk away. Theme song will be Row Vic Ro; come make whoopee with Louise, Elaine, Gigi and Millicent; Bradofsky is beating a path for the Sheldon-led Californians.
National Amateur Press Association Officers 1988-89
President… Lauren R. Geringer… Iowa City, IA 52240
Vice President… Lucy Stovall Douglas… Dacatur, GA 30030
Secretary-Treasurer… Norma Kapplin… Baltimore, MD 21208
Official Editor… Joseph A. Diachenko… La Plata, MD 20646
Recorder… Louise Lincoln… Tucson, AZ 85710
Executive Judges:
Richard S. George… Macon, GA 31210
Dick Fleming… Santa Fe, NM 87505
Jack W. Bond… St Petersburg, FL 33710
Mailing Bureau Manager… Gary Bossler… Massilon, OH 44646
Manuscript Bureau Manager… Nora Lee Ingle… Swan, IA 50252
Recruiting Chairman… David Warner… Bowie, MD 20715
Bureau of Critics… Guy G. Miller… Springfield, OH 45503
Publicity Chairman… Ms. George M. Gray… Cincinnati, OH 45220
Librarian… Stan Oliner… Denver, CO 80237
Nat. Amateur Clearinghouse… Victor A. Moitoret… Silver City, NM 88061
Historian… Ken Koon… Johnson City, NY 13790
Russell L. Paxton
by J. Ed Newman
“The threads of his life are closely woven into a pattern of the lives of many people, producing a beautifully textured fabric.” – Ray A. Albert
The National Amateur Press Association lost a long-time friend and benefactor when Russ Paxton passed away on November 9, 1988. He had printed more National Amateurs than anyone had ever done before, serving as Official Editor for several terms, and he coached more inept Official Editors, enabling them to produce an acceptable volume, for which he never took credit. I am only one of those and I too, owe Paxton the credit for my Volume 91 turning out as well as it did. It could have been much better had I heeded his sage advice and council, gained as it was from traversing those paths himself. Had I listened to him, I would not have gone to that larger typeface, nor would I have departed from those two-column pages. By doing so, I cheated the Association out of a “meatier” volume and much needed wordage in order to achieve an “artier” look.
RUSSELL L. PAXTON was born on July 4, 1907, in a log cabin in Craig County, Virginia. His family moved to Augusta County where Russ attended a country school “…at least through the fourth grade. I found a report card dated 1919.” (letter from Eloise Paxton) When the family moved to the town of Waynesboro, Virginia, Russ attended and graduated from High School there. He bought his first printing press, a 3 x 5 Kelsey, for $15 while still in High School.
Ray A. Albert writes, “He joined the Lone Scouts of America in April, 1926. He published The American Scout and soon passed all of the seven degrees, winning the gold, silver and bronze achievement awards. He was recognized as a Booster, Grand Councilman and Supreme Scout. He was Council Chief of Region 3 for which he published the record-breaking 1927 Year Book. He published the American Scout Magazine which won the Mokray Trophy as the best ALSAP publication in 1928. He was Chief of the Shenandoah Valley Tribe which he organized in 1924. I first met him when he rode a motorcycle from Waynesboro to Blacksburg, Virginia. Later, he moved to Roanoke to live with his parents, and I visited him there many times. During those years and the early years of his marriage we attended many Elbeetian Conventions together.”
May 8, 1913 was a memorable date for Russ Paxton, although he was not to know of it until 18 years later. On that day, Eloise Hall was born in Franklin County, Virginia at a community known as Redwood. She attended first and second grades in a one-room schoolhouse there. When she was nine years old, her family moved to Roanoke County, Virginia, and she attended Mount Pleasant Elementary School. She then went to William Byrd High School in Vinton, Virginia. In her Junior year, 1929-30, she worked part-time for S. H. Kress Company, a 5 and 10 cent store, in Roanoke. In the summer of 1930 she was employed as a full-time clerk for F. W. Woolworth Company, just across the street from Kress’s.
On July 4, 1931, (note the date!) a girl friend with whom she worked arranged a blind date for her. They attended a watermelon feast at Tabernacle Baptist Church near Salem, Virginia where she was introduced to her “date,” Russ Paxton. Russ was working as a printer at Double Envelope Corporation in Roanoke, a firm that manufactured church envelopes. We are not told how the date came out, but it is safe to assume that each was “taken” with the other. During the following year the couple enjoyed swimming, horse-back riding, canoeing on the Roanoke River, Western movies and picnics.
As the weeks and months rolled by their friendship ripened and Russ discovered that, Lo! there was more to life than his beloved printing! Eloise on her part, despite Russ’ show of affection, realized that she would probably be playing ‘second fiddle’ to a printing press should they ever marry. Never the less, Love conquers all and on September 3, 1932, wedding bells rang out for the happy couple. Russ began a new life with a “beauty,” for Eloise was a most attractive girl, who was to sustain him through the many ups and downs awaiting them. Eloise? Why she found a hard-working man who, though just a printer, was true blue to the end.
“You know, J. Ed, that Russ was shy and reserved, liked the simple life, was honest in all things and was deeply hurt if he found out (that) some one had been dishonest with others.” (letter from Eloise)
It is interesting to note that for all of their wedded life, they lived near, and faithfully attended Tabernacle Baptist Church where they first met. Russ printed the Sunday Bulletin and most of the other printed matter for his church at no more than cost, or less.
Eloise was a prize “catch” for him as is recounted in the following, taken from The Gator Growl, September 1946 by Leland Hawes, Jr.:
“…no portrait of him… could be complete without Eloise in the picture. And with due regard to Russ’ virile appeal, she improves the picture. As one prominent ajay pointed out during his visit to Roanoke, Eloise looks more like a showgirl you would see strolling Broadway than a mother of three children.”
During the 30s and early 40s, Russ continued working for Double Envelope Corp. He joined NAPA in 1933. his name is listed for the first time in the June issue of The National Amateur for that year. He was sponsored by Earl E. Tiley, (who probably never realized what a service he had performed for all aj!) and Russ’ credential was his journal The Americana. In 1936 Paxton became a founding member of The American Amateur Press Association, holding his first office under the administration of Helen Vivarttas (Wesson), as recorded in American Amateur Journalist, July 1965. Eloise presented him with their firstborn, Norma Lee, on July 2, 1938, Barbara Anne was born May 13, 1940 and Dorothy Louise, who died in infancy on July 4, 1941. Russell Louis, Jr. was born June 9, 1945 and Shirley Mae, September 23, 1949.
When World War II broke out, Russ joined the war effort and was employed at the Radford (Virginia) Arsenal of the Hercules Powder Company which supplied munitions for the armed forces. He drove the 60 miles between Roanoke and Radford each day, but continued his interest in aj. Following the war, about 1944, Russ’ hobby shop was converted to a full time business. He augmented his 10 x 15 C & P with a 17 x 22 Kelly and a 12 x 18 Little Giant press, the latter to become the workhorse on which he printed so many Official Organs, his own papers and those of other amateurs, in addition to his job work. He added a used Linotype acquired from the Times World Corporation and then a 36-inch power cutter, a saw, automatic folder and an offset press, a 1250 Multilith. All of this gorgeous printing equipment was housed in the basement of the home he and Eloise purchased at 1649 Sunset Avenue, Salem, Virginia.
Russ’ meticulous attention to detail soon acquired for him a reputation for the very finest printing, and his business increased to where he was turning down jobs rather than to go “cheap commercial.” Since this cut into his hobby printing, he welcomed the opportunity to print the American’s Official Organ, the American Amateur Journalist and papers for other amateurs. He never charged full price, or the “going rate” for these jobs.
“A quick look at my file of AAJs indicates that the first issue of AAJ printed by Russ was that for April, 1945 (Vol. 9, No. 4). Russ also took over as editor of AAJ for that issue, replacing Lt. Sheldon Wesson, who was forced to resign upon being called overseas. He printed all issues of my two volumes of the AAJ, November ‘64 to September ‘66.” (letter from Leslie Boyer)
Just how many AAPA Official Editors Russ worked for I have not been able to determine. That it was many is certain for, from 1946 until the 80s he printed the majority of issues of the AAJ. Les Boyer who was quoted above and whose impressions will appear in greater detail in the AAJ memorial to Russ said: “He was an ideal person to have as printer. He always followed instructions to the letter, even when my lack of experience must have offended his sensibilities. He had the ability to make pages look their very best. His presswork was always impeccable.” (from a letter)
Frederick J. Liddle, who has served more terms as Official Editor of AAPA than anyone else, in his fine tribute writes: “Russ introduced QUALITY Linotype composition to readers of the American Amateur Journalist when he began printing the Official Organ in the late forties. His crisp Caledonia (typeface) was a joy to behold. Anyone belonging to the Association during the four decades in which volumes of the AAJ were produced by Paxton is aware of his skills on both the Linotype and Kelly cylinder press. If you read the fine print in the Treasurer’s report you knew his low rates indicated the job was a labor of love. But only those of us who served as Official Editor and used his services knew that Russ was also a FRIEND – both to the Association and to the Editor. Truly, an era has ended. But I like to think my generation and ajays of the future will always pay Russ the homage he so richly deserves.
Theodore Conover was one of the last AAPA Editors to work with Paxton. The following is excerpted from a tribute he wrote: “he printed the AAJ when I was editor in 1982 through 1984. When the Editor lives 3,000 miles from the printer, publication of a journal can have its difficulties. But I encountered no difficulties in working with Russ. We worked out a routine that enabled us to issue the AAJ every other month without ever missing a deadline. Russ was a most unpretentious person. Although he produced some of the finest journals ever to appear in the bundles, he sought no recognition and was humble when he was the recipient of praise. In my contacts with him, I soon came to regard Russ not only as an expert printer, but a fine gentleman as well. It will be difficult, if not impossible to replace him and to duplicate what he did for our hobby.”
For The National Amateur Press Association, Russ racked up a record that equalled or surpassed his work for AAPA. In all, he printed 17 complete volumes, 72 issues of The National Amateur, serving also as Official Editor for several of those volumes. I have been in his shop when he had issues of the AAJ, The National Amateur, and The Fossil going at the same time. At these times, his regular customers had to wait.
Ralph Babcock who edited several volumes of the NA said of Russ: “I have worked with many printers, easiest person to work with was Russ Paxton. Never did he quibble or back off from improbable “demands” I put to him – whether it meant going to Multilith offset to achieve, or required extra piece-work beyond the Linotype normal, or tabular copy I submitted. Russ also ran a large issue of The Fossil (9 x 12 pages) for me. Once, he even printed two issues of my Scarlet Cockerel. When J. Ed wrote his review of my April Fool Scarlet Cockerel, he almost taunted Russ trying to duplicate some of those typographic heresies – and Russ took the extra time and trouble to do it – on the Linotype! On one volume of my National Amateur he declined to increase his page rate, even though costs everywhere had risen. Now, finally his Linotype is cold and silent: but what an amazing record to be remembered for, whenever anyone delves through those old Official Organs.”
Ralph ran a profile on Paxton as the 90th President of NAPA in the June 1974 issue of The National Amateur and it contains a fine biographical sketch with much information on the equipment at the Paxton Press.
Ann Vrooman, another NAPA Editor with absolutely no experience, accepted the office only after I assured her Russ would give her full cooperation and guide her. Ann supplied plenty of good copy and Russ did the rest, producing another outstanding volume. In that volume, the issue number 3 for March, 1972, she carried a feature article on Paxton with numerous illustrations of his own papers and pictures of him at the Linotype. Some of those illustrations are reproduced here.
Russ and I drove to two NAPA conventions together, Marietta, Ohio, in 1971 and Cleveland in 1975. Sharing a room with him gave a glimpse of some of the handicaps he worked under. For one, he had a monstrous hernia and had to wear a damnable brace which must have been very uncomfortable, to say the least. He never spoke of this to my knowledge. Since he never would take time off to have the hernia repaired, he carried the burden to his grave. At the NAPA Natural Bridge Convention in 1972, hosted by The Virginia Amateur Printers Association (VAPA) I was elected Chairman. Russ could not have done more to help; printing, giving sage advice and suggestions that made things go smoothly. In 1984 when Willametta Keffer arranged for me to obtain Marvin Neel’s cutter, Russ was right beside me with his know-how and help. At age 77, he drove with me the 175 miles over icy, snowy country roads up in the mountains to Ceres, Virginia. With freezing fingers he did most of the work of dismantling the cutter and loading it into the back of the Duster.
Moving to Florida in 1978 may have put a thousand miles between us, but letters, phone calls and exchanging papers kept us together. On the morning of November 8, 1988 at about 7:00 a.m., my friend Russell L. Paxton went to meet his Maker and I am sure he received a hearty welcome, for Russ had always been faithful to his church and everyone who ever knew him. Around 9:00 a.m., Eloise called me and gave the sad news. She was grieved but very calm, for Russ’ decline since his stroke had been gradual but sure; so she was somewhat prepared.
I had my last communication from Russ three days after his cremation and just one day following his funeral. On November 12, I received a long letter from him, written and posted the day before he died. Among other things, he said, “I, too, miss our get-togethers and telephone conversations of the past when, it seems, we had more time than now – but you NEVER bugged me, so don’t say that! I’m glad you got to go to Arlington Heights for the AAPA Convention. I still have happy memories of those we had the privilege of attending together.”
He spoke of many things and then concluded with, “I must be slipping – this is the longest letter I’ve written since coming home from the hospital. I hope you can read it. I must go out and get a new typewriter ribbon. Love to you both, Russ.”
And Love to you, too, Russ.
F. Earl Bonnell, 1894 – 1988
by Harold Segal
F. Earl Bonnel, life member and holder of many offices in the NAPA, died December 17, 1988, of cardiac arrest in a local hospital three days after fracturing a leg in a household accident. He was 94 years old. He was born in 1894 and lived at the same address all his life.
Earl was an enthusiastic publisher, printer and bookbinder. He was an inveterate convention attendee before his activities were curtailed by a heart ailment. In the ‘30s and ‘40s he published Ink Spots. In the ‘50s and ‘60s he switched to The Friendly Road, a 5×7, usually 12-page journal of prose and poetry, neatly set and printed in 10-pt. Garamond.
Earl was recruited in 1930 by the Vincent Haggerty-Edwin Hadley Smith recruiting campaign, which enticed many teenagers to join. He was 36 at the time, but prided himself as the “oldest boy printer.” He was elected official editor in 1933 and served as executive judge on other occasions. With a good sense of humor, he was an excellent and entertaining speaker at many NAPA and Fossil dinners.
Bonnell was an excellent bookbinder. Using equipment he had devised and made, he often gave demonstrations at conventions and meetings. For many years he distributed at Christmas small hardbound books that he had printed and bound, still coveted by many collectors:
Along the Trail
Blueprint for Happiness
The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay
The Selfish Giant
The Strange Treasure of Professor Fitzpatrick
Johnny Appleseed
In 1956 he wrote, “The rattle and clunk of the printing press, and the enticing smell of printing ink have always fascinated me. So it is not strange that I took up printing as a hobby when family conditions made it necessary for me to stay close to home. The familiar Kelsey Press Company catalog advertisements always interested me (and does to this day), and I spent may hours drooling over their catalog and various lists of used printing equipment. The actual purchase of a printing press was delayed, however, until I finally located an outfit within my means. Observing the first printed piece that came from my own press was a thrill that mere words cannot describe.
“After doing small commercial printing jobs in my spare time for a couple of years, I realized that ‘job printing’ was not for me… I wanted to produce something more satisfying such as a small paper or a book. I knew nothing about the hobby of amateur journalism or the intricacies of book-making. I studied various small papers and pamphlets for layout and design, delving also into the mysteries of bookbinding. Then a copy of Will Ransom’s Private Presses and Their Books, and an invitation to join the National Amateur Press Association set me on the right track. Out of this came The Bunny Press, which has served as my hobby for more than 25 years (1956). A Hobby that has paid untold dividends in friendship, in fellowship and many happy hours.”
Bonnell was also a railroad buff. He was a member of the National Railroad Historical Society and the Lake Shore Railway Historical Society. He was also active in church and Masonic affairs as well as the North East Exchange Club, of which he was a past president.
Before his retirement he had been employed for forty-nine years at the Erie Strayer Co., where, in later years, he served as secretary-treasurer of the company.
He is survived by a sister and two nieces, one is Carol Newbold who accompanied him to many conventions; and two nephews.
A Clean Sweep
by Guy Miller, Chairman, Bureau of Critics
Don Varney has arrived to cheer both computer-wits and letterpressers. Recent possessor of a C&M Columbia plus type and a “small printing business on the side” (also a 3×5 Kelsey minus rollers and ink plate), Mr. Varney nevertheless has published his first issue of The Wilding Street Examiner with the help of an IBM computer, Glyphix fonts, and HP LaserJet II. Why?
“Since I was anxious to get involved, I opted to use this tool to get my publication out.”
A sensible decision, we say, Incidentally, Don asks for help with locating information about his Columbia, “squeezing” borders, finding an ink plate, and solving the problems of education. There, now we can all pitch in.
But before we do so, let us welcome Jim Buck Huggins, another new letterpresser, who launches The Scrivener in good form with neat printing and a poetic tribute from his stepson. We know that Mr. Huggins has good things in store for us. After all, look who recruited him – none other than our ubiquitous Robert Orbach, the same man who brought you Ethel Mullins and Bertha Levy (we missed you this time, Dr. L.) and who has newly set things straight in California.
Yes, you heard correctly; Stuffed Voice (or Flexible Posthorn, take your pick) tells us that, thanks to John Dingman’s urging, Bob found himself in sunny El Cajon, helping to expedite the work in the offices of the Mailing Bureau (the fact that it has since been moved to Massillon, Ohio had nothing to do with Bob, we understand).
But first, after convincing us in Flexible Voice 104 that Duncan-Gilbert-Conner is a hard combination to beat, Bob renders a mushy cereal thriller (FL 105), releases the restless energy of “To See the Sea” (written by Hariette), and in FL 106 offers a taste of raw erotica.
For what more could one ask? Well, how about Jack Hageman and his Garret Grouch 81, which he did all by himself this time. We rather prefer 82, though, because the printing is better. But, it contains the same comfortable fare, this time covering book reviews and ad slogans. Pepsi Cola? We remember that Popeye sang that ditty, except that it had a “toot! toot!” in there somewhere.
And speaking of toots, testing its horn in Buried Treasure 15 is none other than the Chimerical Youth Party with visions of grandeur. No doubt we will hear a mite more about it all from Boy Printers, Fleming and Sheldon. Will they not be opposed? Where is Shampane when we need it?
True, Shampane 42 does counter with a weak attack. But actually, the editors are too busy chortling about their recent laureate honorable mention for editorial comment to notice much else. Then too, considering that they were in the midst (no, Ferdl, not fog!) of their 25th anniversary celebrations, who can blame them?
But let us return to the matter of new issues to mention a fresh print from an old hand. Ed Fielding favors us with Spindrift which he suggests that he might do again. Wonderful! And for a lad of his age, he doesn’t do too bad a job editing in the stick, either, especially with a contemplative A. Walrus to support his efforts.
Nor does Joe A. Diachenko do too badly with Gazebo News No. 1. A BiG Bodkin it is not, but it’s not a filler spiller, either. In fact, we pronounce the new press tryout a big success.
We shy away from making any statement about President Geringer’s People Watcher. We still call upon him to give us more NAPA than just a flick from Fick (190) or a score from Orr (191), even though Orr’s comments about Geringer’s use of the term “masthead” does call for advice from someone. We need Babcock or Wesson to help us.
At the same time we direct your attention to the teaming up of Ralph and Gehry who, in PW 192, recount some of the woes of the multilith. Reading all about it makes us happy that we have never had that much contact with the process.
John Setek seems to have no woes to speak of, but he has many other things to say. In fact, his Printers Progress is quickly becoming one of the ‘Dom’s most fascinating documents on printing and related interests. Look at issues 4-7, the topics of which range from the etymology of Wayzgoose to an introduction to printer’s milk.
We found the story of Mr. Aspinall and the Adena refreshing, especially in view of the present-day insider trading scandals. Most enlightening was the explanation of the press used by Poland’s Solidarity Union. Finally, Mr. Setek gives another story of an equipment-moving daymare (7) to set beside those of Harold Davids, Dave Warner and the Hendersons.
Several good stories come from Richard Orr by way of ORRiginal Thoughts. Number 5 (a four-pager!) gives us a money-saving tip – if you are a skilled craftsman. After examining Orr’s work we can only say, “Will the real 48 pt. please step aside!” Then gaze at No. 6 and see to what use this genius puts brasses and coppers: Toonerville Trolley parts, indeed! And just as we are thinking that we have all the facts about this man Orr, along comes OT 7 to add fire engine chasing to his list of activities. Has this guy no limits?
Anyway, we can count on Keith Gray with his Alpha & Omega 44 to supply a strong measure of inspiration, this time from S. Louise Rayle, Louise Lincoln and Helen Amos. Mrs. Amos’s “Childhood Church Bells” is interesting, but has some rough spots, especially “Over rock and hill and glen” which seems too obviously a filler line to supply something to rhyme with “again.” The standout is Louise’s “He Loved Us to Life’s New Start” with cleverly contrived stops enabling us to get the feel of the rhyme without any visual arrest.
Next A&O 45 contains solid Christmas material from the same trio. Helen’s “Reflections at Christmas” tries a new theme and succeeds in bringing us to the answer to what proves to be a rhetorical question: “Are we now (ready)?”
We leave the matter there and turn to the fine work of Dorothy and Willis Hutchison. Isn’t it nice to see two issues of Nostalgic History? “Experiences in Homesteading” (3), handset and printed in brown on brown, makes a handsome keepsake. And the calendar (4) is just the harbinger which we all need this time of year, assuring us that, yes, there will be a 1995.
So, with that assurance we next examine J. G. Wood’s Ramona Ramblings 24. It is always interesting to us to learn of another’s travels, especially when we can catch glimpses of our own wanderings. Incidentally, regarding the antelopes and jackrabbits, on our Amtrak trip the conductor admonished us to watch for the “jackalopes.” We didn’t catch on at first. But, we digress. So, let us say that the new masthead of RR 25 is attractive, but it wastes space.
We don’t believe that Bay’s Tid Bits wastes space, exactly, but regarding issues 31, 35 and 37, we would like to say more about Stephen Bayuzick’s work if it weren’t for the fact that many times we find it illegible. We think that most of the work is paste-up filler. No. 37 is clearer, and we can read Little Bay’s “Reminiscing” on the subject of Christmas. This issue is also graced with a poem by Austin West; but reprint or not, we don’t know.
As to legibility, Joe M. Singer’s Hello Moon 4 is much easier to read than his last issue, and the format is better. Then too, Joe tells a little story which is far superior to any filler. We are encouraged to expect steady improvement from here on.
And we are encouraged to believe that we have found the clue to deciphering The At LeeSure Countersign from publishers Jeff Jennings and Beverly Lee. We did some study of the Oct. and Nov. issues with a magnifying glass and believe we have discovered that parts of them rhyme, that one of them lists the name of several NAPA journals, and that Pat had a birthday on July 17. Are we right or what?
Personal Pitches: What’s this – The Mini-Digest 69 and 69? In any case, while we swallowed your “Christmas Tidbits,” Warren Rosenberger, we paused at your remarks about pennies, which you didn’t pick up. Well, we do. And it so happens that a recent survey by Money Magazine shows that 72% of the American populace pick up pennies when they see them “lying in the street” (sidewalks and gutters are not covered by the survey). However, “little more than half of those under 35 would pick up a penny…” Now, we didn’t know you were so young!
From John to Don with Ralph between, no finer printing have we seen than NAPA West 36. A note to Gale regarding brasses and coppers: In the shop where we received our training, we weren’t allowed to use them. Therefore, not knowing what they were, we had no trouble doing without them. Those that we now possess came stuck in old cases or various piles of pi which we have acquired from time to time.
Just Our Type 48 features a little background on our calligrapher-cum-poet plus a fillup from Till. Then 49 sheds further light on Bill’s past – and ours, in a way. In 1956 our search for something to present to our literature classes on women in the 17th century turned up Ann Bradstreet (school textbooks have discovered her since.) We decided upon “To My Dear and Loving Husband” mainly because of the near-rhyming of “quence” with “recompence” and the matching of “persevere” with the following “live ever.” Had we known then that Mrs. Bradstreet was Bill’s ancestor, we would have given her more exposure.
SHORT CUTS: Mailer’s Message (10, 11, 12): We ring out the old (?) and bring in the new; introducing Gary Bossler, and your new mailing manager for 1989. But Gale Sheldon’s work will remain more than a memory – Alan’s Alley (10, 11) and Birch Street Gazette (14): Mr. Harshaw expounds upon the greenhouse theory. That it rains, and Alan finds his wallet. Many will experience a touch of recognition in “The Day My Father Died.” Incidentally, Alan, you and fellow HO fan, Richard Orr, should get in touch. He can show you how to employ those brass spaces to keep your trains on a tight course.
The Flying Coffin (15): Congratulations to Dick Fleming and designer Haywood on the Coffin’s new sunny pressmark. We think it will fly. – Campane (136): Martha E. Shivvers immerses us in “The Alphabetical Cauldron” (Question: Just when is one “civilized?”), and Bill Haywood introduces us to Hermann Zapf, whose types now seem to appear everywhere.
Postrider Keepsake (17): Zapf’s Palatino (see, Bill ?); fine. Now what about the ornament and the stock? Be like Ralph B., and enlighten us. – Proofs and Pulls (15): Palatino again, Laurence Hines gives us a tastefully done journal containing a thoroughly absorbing moment in the life of a lad in the early 20s. – NAPA San Diego (22): While Ray Buman goes East, we look West to John Robinson’s Mission Valley restaurant.
Original Entry (88): Keith Gray whoops it up for the Fossils. – Patina Press (19): “Helen and Victor Finkle” employs a nice gimmick which Flo Koon sustains satisfactorily. – Design For Printing (15): Welcome back, Delvia Stickler. An interesting reprint about daughter Jan and her husband. – Toughened Fibers (15): Ethel Mullin’s story of quilts touches upon a topic which we have always found fascinating because of the history that is inevitably revealed.
Notes From a Horse Doctor’s Almanac (Dec.): One of our favorite DVMs, Robert Schladetzky, returns with a sprightly anecdote vivid enough to be transferred to a dramatic script without change. – The Kitchen Toaster (1): If you haven’t heeded this missal by now, forget it.
Ray’s Ravings (13): One of Ray Winslett’s neatest and most nutritious issues with a solid poem “December Night in New Orleans,” a rather successful take off of “The Night Before Christmas” by Edna Smith, and an enjoyable book review column. – Reflections & Refractions (21): Harold Davids begins what promises to be an interesting survey of the Nangatuck River. – National Calamity (67): We are not surprised that Fred Liddle is still sour on the Olympics; more over. By the way, another reason you bathed with Lifebuoy was that it was cheap.
The Reviewer (Vol. 4, No. 8): Dressed out with the loving touch of Lea Palmer, tender verse by Sesta Matheison, and the personal philosophy of Martha Shivvers. The National Amateur (Dec.): Note especially Laurence Hine’s “My Plunge Into Desktop Publishing” and rejoice. Welcome to James Ruffino with his cartooning skills. We hope that he finds many opportunities to express himself in NAPA. – The Rosewood Rambler (19): Leah Warner states a strong case for specialization. Our only comment is a stray thought rather than a rebuttal; “The liberal arts polish and adorn the human mind.”
MEANWHILE: The Boxwooder is always a thought-provoking journey, but 231 and 232 almost does us in. “Untenable Pseudo-Science” leaves us gasping and wondering how one can judge whether what he is being told is honest science or flim-flam, especially when, in full view of our horror-stricken eyes, Jake attacks the sanctity of the UFO phenomenon.
And if that is not enough, just when we were beginning to believe that the “Missing Time” concept explains why it is 1989 already, “Its in the Book” knocks that thesis topsy-turvy.
Mercifully, Rowena Moitoret comes along just in time and in TBW 233 offers three engaging pieces ranging from red crepe to ballet to tornadoes, and finishes to the harmonious hum of the Electrolux. Now that’s a clean sweep!
* * * Save those copper and brass spacers. They are very useful for the repair and maintenance of model railroad track circuits. * * *
Joseph W. Curran
by William F. Haywood
On Sunday, January 29, Joe and Lillian Curran left Vermilion, Ohio to drive to Panama City Beach, Florida. They had rented a cabana on the Gulf of Mexico for a month. Somewhere along Interstate 71 Joe felt the need to pull off the road, where he succumbed to a heart attack.
In a letter written to us on the 27th, he reported that his doctor had examined him on the 10th and given him a good report; his weight was being maintained at 148 pounds, and diet and exercise were keeping him fit. Joe had done an excellent job since his retirement in losing excess poundage and strengthening his heart, so this was an unexpected shock to his friends.
Joe had been a long-time amateur journalist, having discovered the hobby through the pages of The Open Road for Boys magazine. He joined AAPA in 1937, NAPA in 1940. He and I are the only amateurs to have served as president of AAPA, NAPA, and The Fossils.
Born March 13, 1923 in Tarrytown, NY, he has lived in Ohio since 1936. A graduate of St. Ignatius High School and John Carroll University in Cleveland, Joe served in the navy and marines in WWII, and had a long career in the Federal Civil Service.
Lillian and Joe were married July 7, 1951 and were blessed with three daughters, Patricia Ann, Mary Elizabeth and Carolyn Frances, as well as two grandchildren.
In addition to printing, Joe was an avid ham radio operator. An upstairs room in their home was filled with tuners, amplifiers and other electronics; a tall antenna towered above the roofline. In the basement was his other hobby, with a spotless 8 x 12 C&P press in the center of the floor. Around the walls are type cabinets and stands, some of them made by him. In addition to a proof press, paper cutter and odds and ends there is a new type stand, with full upper and lower cases, rare these days.
Joe’s journal, Rendezvous, was published three or four times a year, and in 1981 he published a miniature book, Newspaper Classics, in limited edition of 70 copies. He bought and sold several presses over the years, and was skillful at taking them apart and putting them together. When we moved to Ohio, Joe was on hand to help us reassemble our 8 x 12.
He attended his first NAPA convention in Cleveland, Ohio in 1941, as he lived in the suburb of Brooklyn and could take the streetcar to the sessions. He was only 17 and just out of high school, so the event “was a great thrill” for him. He attended several other conventions and strongly supported the right of all paying members to vote, and was disappointed that the activity requirements were never eliminated.
His job, as a Federal attorney investigating Civil Service corruption, took him to every county in the state, and a lesser man would have developed a cynical attitude toward life and humanity. Joe, however, never lost his belief in democracy or his love for friends and family.
When John Gillick, a fellow Buckeye, died in 1983, Joe left the telling of his accomplishments to others, preferring “a few words to record my feelings about him.” He said: “A friend of my heart. One who has a brother in spirit. I enjoyed every minute I spent with him. I only wish it had been more. I will miss John, but I know I will meet him again in a better place.”
And that’s the way we feel about Joe, too.
George Was a Tiger
by Dick Fleming
I first met George Stallings in 1976 when I moved to Sante Fe, New Mexico. He lived 55 miles away in Albuquerque. I had just joined the NAPA and found his name on the membership list.
When I knocked on his front door for the first time, George came bustling out, gave me a bone-crushing handshake, and made me feel welcome. He was 69 years old at the time, but gave the vigorous impression of being years younger. Alert eyes, a sharp mind, full of life – that was George!
We went out into his garage printshop. It took up more than half of what had once been his double garage. He had a model 8 Linotype, a 12 x 18 C&P press, a metal saw, a composing stone and many cases of type as well as spacing material, furniture, and type ornaments. He also had a paper cutter, folder and saddle stapler.
George was publishing his New Mexico Cougar in those days. It was a well-done personal journal, the contents of which varied from poetry and prose to Gemology notes and his own almanac. He published on a regular basis and his journal was always interesting reading.
Later on I found out some details of his life. He had been born in Highlandtown, Baltimore County, Maryland on February 4, 1907. He attended elementary school through the last ninth grade in Baltimore before Junior High Schools were started, then he went to the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Then he entered the Johns Hopkins University (Class of 1929) completing 2½ years until his father’s death which compelled him to drop out of the university and go to work for the Bethlehem Steel Company. He had taken the Army Reserve Officer’s Course while at Johns Hopkins.
On October 20, 1928, he and Jessie Inez Mann were married in Covington, Kentucky. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the Maryland National Guard in December 1929 and was recommissioned in the Army Infantry Reserve in June 1931. In April 1933, he was called to active duty and assigned as an officer in the Civilian Conservation Corps and remained on active duty until 1937.
His Army duties moved him from Fort Meade, Maryland to Cowan Gap, Pennsylvania where the men built a dam and the State Park as well as fire breaks on the mountain. He had been promoted to First Lieutenant and was then sent to the Grass Valley, Nevada City, Tahoe-Ukiah Ridge, California area. Then, in the mountains around Elk City Idaho, he and the CCC built roads and fire breaks after which George completed his tour of duty at Indian Head, Maryland.
George then worked at the Bethlehem Steel company, at Sparrow’s Point, Maryland from 1937 until February 1941, advancing to the position of Chief Statistical Clerk of the Hot Strip Mill.
He was called to active duty again on February 2, 1941 and remained on active duty until November 30, 1956 when he retired as a Reserve Colonel.
After retirement, Stallings entered the Civil Service and worked as a Ground Equipment Inventory Manager for the F101 aircraft. He then moved to the procurement field, as Procurement Methods Analyst, then to Administrative Contracting Officer, and to Chief of Contract Administration, serving in various parts of the country. He retired from the Civil service for physical disability on August 6, 1975 and settled in Albuquerque.
George was also a stamp and coin collector and dealer whose other hobbies were: Ham radio, (ex W4SPF as Civilian Defense Emergency Operator), model railroading, writing, gemology, metalworking, woodworking, electronic building and maintenance, photography and amateur printing.
In 1982 George decided to join the computer revolution and sold all of his letterpress shop equipment to me. He continued to publish for the bundles using computer generated text and a copy machine for reproduction. Since he used a dot matrix printer, the print quality for his journal was not nearly as clear as it had been when he published with letterpress. Adverse bundle criticism of his new format caused George to drop out of the NAPA at that time. It was NAPA’s loss.
At an age when most of us have given up many hobbies, George taught himself to use computers. With the aid of a Commodore PET 32K computer (dual disk drive) and a tractor feed printer, he wrote his own genealogical program and began tracing his ancestry.
George Wilkenson Stallings died on September 5, 1988 in Albuquerque of a heart attack. Active to the end, enthusiastic about life and his hobbies, he is survived by his wife “J” and a son, Ronald of the family home.
I considered myself lucky to be one of his many friends. He may have been a publishing, “Cougar,” but in my book he was a Tiger.
Reports From NAPA Officers
Secretary’s Report
Sep. 30 – Dec. 31, 1988
New:
Kato, Sharon K., San Francisco, CA 94115.
Pidzarko, Tustin, CA 92627.
Ruffino, James, Anaheim, CA 92804.
Sheridan, Donald, Afton, IA 50830
Osbourne, William, Edgewater, MD 21037.
Schram, Carl, College Park, MD 20640.
Schiff, Benjamin, Middle Village, NY 11379.
Carson, Andy, Alexandria, VA 22310.
Reinstated:
Watts, Gordon, Accokeek, MD, 20607.
Gray, Williams, Williamsburg, NM 87942.
Royal, S. F. Jr., Williamsburg, VA 23185.
Humfleet, Betty, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
Dropped:
Garb, Hildreth, CO
Wene, Elizabeth, KA
Leazer, Donald, MA
Gray, William, NM
Rodgers, P. Michael, TX
Royall, S. F. Jr., VA
Address Changes:
Hageman, Jack, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240.
Ames, Michael, Solana Beach, CA 92075.
Arnold, Virginia Lee, Deming, NM 88030.
Buman, Raymond, G., Erie, PA 16506.
Treasurer’s Report:
Sep. 30 – Dec. 31, 1988
Income:
Dues: 8 New, 49 Renewals, 4 Reinstated $998.00
Donations:
Ray Albert 10.00
James Guinane 10.00
William Groveman 15.00
Ted Lavash 20.00… 55.00
Dividends: Weixelbaum Trust Fund 371.11
Checking Acc’t Interest 83.98
Total Income $1,508.09
Expenses:
Postmaster LaPlata, NA acc’t 175.00
Russell Paxton, NA cut 7.76
J. A. Diachenko, NA printing 808.21
J. A. Diachenko, NA extra postage 14.79
Gary Bossler, Mailing permit 120.00
Gary Bossler, Mailing expenses 800.00
Gazebo Press, NA printing 670.93
Norma Kapplin, Postage 36.05
Total Expenses: $2,632.74
Assets:
Cash Balance Sep. 30, 1988: $5,814.50
Excess expenses over income: $1,124.67
Cash Balance Dec. 31, 1988: $4,689.83
Life Members Fund: $5,579.24
Total Assets: $10,269.07
Remember – point your pony towards Wichita, Kansas for the 1989 Convention
Historian’s Report
February – March 1989
by Ken Koon
Alpha & Omega, #46, Mar., 4pp, Keith M. Gray
APC News, #150, Dec.-Jan., 8pp, Many Publishers
Bay’s Tid Bits, #43, 4pp, Stephen Bayuzick
By The Way, #5, Feb., 4pp, Dick Ryan
Buried Treasure, #17, Mar., 4pp, Seldom Sheldon & Famous Fleming
City Views, #3, Mar., 2pp, Mark Sableman
Experiment, #1, Mar., 4pp, Dick Ryan
Faraway Places, #7, Feb., 4pp, Marvin E. Reed
Journal of a Garret Grounch, #83, Feb., 6pp, Jack and Rosella Hageman
Just Our Type, #51, Jan., 4pp, Matilda S. & William F. Haywood
Just Our Type, #52, Feb., 4pp, Matilda S. & William F. Haywood
Just Our Type, #53, Mar. 4pp, Matilda S. & William F. Haywood
Mail Call, Feb., 1p, Gary Bossler
NAPA San Diego, #23, Feb., 4pp, Gale Sheldon
National Calamity, #68, Mar., 4pp, Fred Liddle
Original Entry, #90, Feb., 4pp, Keith M. Gray
ORRiginal Thoughts, #9, Feb., 2pp, Richard Orr
People Watcher, #194, Feb., 4pp, Lauren R. Geringer
People Watcher, #195, Mar. 4pp, Lauren R. Geringer
Press Release, Feb., 3pp., G. M. Gray
Printers Progress, #9, Mar., 2pp, John Setek
Printers Progress, #10, Apr., 2pp, John Setek
Rays, Feb., 4pp, Ray A. Albert
Rays Ravings, #14, Mar., 3pp, Ray Winslett
Reflections & Refractions #23, Winter, 8pp, Harold E. Davids
Shampane, #43, Feb., 4pp, Harvin Fegal
The BiG Bodkin, #17, Jan., 8pp, Joe A. Diachenko
The Boxwooder, #225, Feb. 12pp & cover, Jake Warner
The Boxwooder, #226, Mar., 12pp & cover, Jake Warner
The Bradbury Press, #5, Apr., 5pp & cover, Thomas Patell
The Flexible Voice, #107, Dec., 2pp, Robert L. Orbach
The Flexible Voice, #108, Jan., 2pp, Robert L. Orbach
The Flexible Voice, #109, Feb., 2pp, Robert L. Orbach
The Flexible Voice, #110, Mar., 2pp, Robert L. Orbach
The Flying Coffin, #16, Mar., 4pp, Dick Fleming
The Kitchen Stove, #69, Mar., 4pp, Louise Lincoln
The Mini Digest, #71, Mar., 8pp, Warren Rosenberger
The Reviewer, #9, Feb., 4pp, Guy Miller
Recorder’s Report
by Louise Lincoln
Additional members meeting and activity requirement by publishing Dec. 1988 – Feb. 1989:
Gary Bossler, Guy Botterill, Edgar Fielding, Bill Groveman, Jim Kapplin, Norma Kapplin, Willametta Keffer, Dorothy MacAuley, Sesta Matheison, J. Ed Newman, Tom Patell, Dick Ryan, Robert Schladetzky, Gussie Segal, Don Varney, Jim Walczak, Tom Whitbread, Parker Worley.
Mailer’s Report
January – Dec. 1988
by Gale Sheldon
January through June:
INCOME: NAPA funds to mailer $1,300.00
EXPENSES: January through June $727.07
July through December:
July bundle (19 items) $82.46
Address corrections, returns $.60
August bundle (21 items) $93.56
Address corrections, returns $1.50
September bundle (20 items) $94.65
Address corrections, returns $.30
October bundle (22 items) $81.08
Address corrections, returns $1.15
November bundle (19 items) $106.35
Address corrections, returns $5.27
December bundle (23 items) $94.02
Address corrections, returns $.30
Shipping Mailer’s file $8.00
Forwarding papers:
December 3
December 12
December 15
December 21… $23.97
Expenses July through December: $593.21
Total Expenses for year 1988: $1,320.28
Amount due Mailer, 12/31/88 ($20.28)
Mailer’s Note:
Using the last nine month’s figures (with the new postal rates beginning in April as a basis) I have figured the annual costs for these categories:
Bulk Mail:
Subsidy: 2.45
Canada Surface:
Annual Cost: 13.72 Subsidy: 3.77
Canada Air:
Annual Cost: 14.16 Subsidy: 4.21
Overseas Surface:
Annual Cost: 14.60 Subsidy: 4.65
Europe Air:
Annual Cost: 33.56 Subsidy: 23.61
Far East Air:
Annual Cost: 42.32 Subsidy: 32.37
First Class Domestic:
Annual Cost: 12.60
The subsidy (or additional amount) required for each category was figured by subtracting the $2.45 annual bulk mail cost and the $7.50 foreign surcharge from the annual cost in each category.
It was a pleasure serving as mailer for the past two years, especially with the help of so many willing friends who enjoyed the bundle stuffing “parties.”
More Desktop Publishing
by Phil Cade
According to Webster, desktop means “of a size that can be conveniently used on a desk or table <~ calculators>”, which would include tabletop printing presses. All you really need for desktop publishing is a typewriter and some way of making multiple copies, but what is meant here by the term is really Digital Publishing. In other words, the information is changed into digital form and printed in digital form. The digits are easily stored in electronic memory or transmitted over wire. It’s similar to the difference between 78’s and CD’s. Fortunately, you don’t need to know any of that in order to use the equipment and enjoy the advantages of the process.
My desktop publishing system is just that. It’s mounted on an old second hand office desk in front of a cushioned office chair with casters. All writing, composition, proofing, and printing are done in a comfortable sitting position, with classical music playing in the background. There is no standing at the case or proof press, and no cleaning up afterward. It is located in the cellar in part of the area that used to be the coal bin when we first moved here about forty years ago. (The furnace has twice since been upgraded, and the coal delivery window replaced with a door.) Equipment consists of a Macintosh SE 20MB and a LaserWriter IINT. Software is Ready, Set, Go! 4.5 (upgraded from 4.0).
I started using the computer about a year ago. The Macintosh is relatively easy to use, which is a good thing, because most instruction books are poorly written. I learned how to use it by reading the instructions and working with it until I found out what worked and what did not work. I did not take any lessons or have anyone help me. You can buy books on specific computer models and software at computer bookstores that are much more helpful than the books that come with the equipment. In spite of all this, I find that computers definitely have a mind of their own. It is sometimes a contest to get the machine to do what you want it to do instead of what it wants to do, but now I win most of the time.
Writing an article or book is a creative process that varies from person to person. There have been rumors that some people sit back and think, and then write an article, or chapter or book without any changes. I don’t believe it. We normal mortals need to change, rearrange, delete and add frequently. Nothing beats the computer for doing that. Weak, though your writing ability may be, the computer will help. It encourages the lazy to clear up their prose. It will help your spelling too, although the spelling check is far from perfect. It will help you spell accoutrements, but it accepts two, too, or to, only one of which can be right (write, rite?), or any other word in the dictionary. You have seen that type of mistake in published work. There are software packages available that claim to improve your writing, and will suggest where you should change a word, or where a wrong word was used, or the same word used too many times. Probably that would help the spelling check but I haven’t tried that software. The spelling check helps reduce the frequency of typos, but there is absolutely no way to prevent typos from occurring.
When the information to be published is entered into the computer, the next step of the process is to arrange the typographic details. Some software requires two programs, one to record the text, and another to do the composition. With Ready, Set, Go! It can be done in one step. You decide the size of the type for text and headings from 2 points to 327 points in increments of 0.01 points, decide on the typeface, and set the line width. You decide on the amount of kerning you want. I find this depends on the typeface that is used. For this article the kerning is set for 150%. See the Yo, We To, fo, etc. Justifying is done in a second or two. Changing type style or size is just a keystroke or motion of the “mouse.” You can change the letter spacing, word spacing, and line spacing to get the best optical effect. Here is the opportunity for excellent or awful typography, or anything in between.
Next you will need a printer of some kind to work with the computer. The cheapest is probably the dot matrix printer, but if you want the best, there is no choice except the laser printer. It is the only one that approaches the quality of good letterpress printing from new type. In order to make the closest approach, it is necessary that the laster printer have a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch, and be able to handle PostScript fonts. The printer I have will do this. If you want even better resolution, the Varityper laser printer prints 600 dots per inch. Many commercial magazines are using this printer. The advantage of PostScript is that many type faces are available in that form of high quality type that looks like the old familiar faces a letterpress printer uses. The ones that come standard with my printer are: ITC Avante Garde, ITC Bookman, Courier, Helvetica, Helvetica Narrow, New Century Schoolbook, Palatino, Symbol, Times, ITC Zapf Chancery, and ITC Zapf Dingbats. Most of these can be modified by the computer to provide Plain, Bold, Italic, Underline, Shadow, Condensed, Extended, or Overstrike. When purchased directly from the manufacturer, such as the Adobe Corp., fonts and word processing programs will cost full list price. Fortunately, if you know exactly what you want, you can purchase fonts and programs from the many discount suppliers who advertise in all the computer magazines. The MacWarehouse, for example, offers the $187 Adobe fonts for $145. If the large selection of typefaces available still doesn’t satisfy you, then you can actually design your own typeface letter by letter.
The LaserWriter is quiet, unlike impact printers, and it can be used to make the multiple copies of a publication if black is the only color you need. If you want colors you will have to make plates for offset printing or combine it with genuine letterpress printing. The laser printer is limited in its ability to print halftones. It prints dots of only one size, whereas halftones have dots of varying size. Don’t use the laser printer for halftones. Clip art is available in the form of line drawings, or illustrations that look like wood engravings. If you use this laser printer for quantity production, it will have a speed of “up to” eight 8½ x 11 pages per minute. You can do other work while it is quietly printing away, and when it is finished you don’t have to clean up the press. Faster results are available by photocopying at a copy center or making plates for offset printing.
Not all is sweetness and light, however. I have run into a few problems with this equipment. Unlike letterpress printing, you can’t set type or print if the power is out. Even more problems appear if the power goes out when you are using the computer. Last May we had five power outages which not only shut down the computer and printer, but each one lost any information that had been entered in the computer and not “saved,” and sometimes even worse. I had to reenter a lot of data in the computer just as if it were being started up for the first time. (I had to reset all the electric clocks too.) One day we were having some major repair work done in the house. While this was going on, I spent most of the morning working with the computer, then went outside of the building for a few minutes. In that short time, one of the “workers” blew a fuse because of overloading a circular saw, ran downstairs, and flipped on and off all the circuit breakers he could find. Of course this ruined all the work I had done, and required a lot of reprogramming. He never did find the blown fuse.
Another problem involved some composition I was doing. I composed one page while one of the household cats sat nearby watching. Then he got down from his perch and stepped on the “delete” key. That stupid cat wiped out three quarters of a page of beautiful composition!
One day in August I turned on the computer in the morning. It made one short beep, and died. It turned out that the “power supply” had failed. That cost $230.56 including one hour of labor at $58.00. This happened about 2 or 3 months after the 90 day warranty expired. Then the printer had a mechanical failure just after its warranty expired. Such short warranties on expensive equipment like this is ridiculous. My wife bought a sewing machine recently, and it is warranted for 25 years on parts and 2 to 5 years on labor. These machines are delicate mechanical devices, and the ordinary user is not mechanically inclined. Her sewing machine contains a small computer too. Perhaps the sewing machine people should be making computers. They would probably build a better computer than Apple (the manufacturer of Macintosh), selling for less money, with a long warranty, and probably would earn more money making computers than sewing machines.
If I were starting out today to buy this sort of equipment I would still buy the same computer, printer, and software. The only things I need are more typefaces, software and memory. That’s like the needs of the letterpress printer who always wants more type, cuts, and type cabinets. The computer is useful for many more things than desktop publishing, of course, but it is addictive.
It will never replace letterpress printing.
Library Looking for a Home
Kenneth Weiser has recently acquired the ajay collection which belonged to Robert Holman. It includes Holman’s famous journal Cubicle plus National Amateurs, Fossils, and various issues of the better magazines of yesteryear.
Anyone interested in acquiring this collection (for the price of postage) contact:
Kenneth Weiser
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
The National Amateur
Official Journal of the
National Amateur Press Association
Volume 111, Number 3, March 1989
Copyright 1988 by the National Amateur Press Association
Published quarterly by the National Amateur Press Association, a nonprofit organization established July 4, 1876 to promote amateur journalism as a hobby. Members write, print, publish and exchange papers either by direct mail or through the association’s mailing bureau, which collects and distributes a “bundle” of journals to each member every month. Membership is not restricted by age, sex or race.
Anyone interested in the hobby, upon endorsement by a present member, will be considered for membership. Dues are $15 per year which includes a subscription to The National Amateur, and entitles a member to participate in association affairs. Active members are qualified to vote in the annual election of officers held at the annual convention (Wichita, Kansas in 1989).
An active member may also participate in the annual laureate competition and use the mailing bureau and the manuscript bureau. Additional members of the same household may join for half dues, but only one copy of the official organ and the bundle will be sent to this household. Subscription only to The National Amateur is available to non-members for $8 per year.
Second-class permit pending at La Plata, MD 20646. (ISSN 0027-8521) Postmaster: Send change of address to La Plata, MD 20646.