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God of the North Wind, Early Eskimo Style
By Alric C. Tredwell, Our Special Staff Artist.
Extra! A Giant Step Forward! Extra!
In this issue we’re proud to announce the proprietor of the Trivia Press, publishers of Our Special and other trivia, has joined the American Amateur Press Association. This group has about 250 members who write, publish, print or are interested in such a hobby.
Perhaps now is as good a time as any to announce that Our Special is mostly the work of Harlan D. and Nell G. Burbank acting as janitors, writers, typesetters, printers, in fact, the whole business!
We’re both past 65 years of age and looking forward to the next 65. After that, we’ll see!
Harlan D. has spent almost all his working life as a printer. He started with a case of 8-pt. Type and a 2×3-in. Kelsey press, as far as we can remember. He worked in a job shop before he finished high school. Salesbook factories, business form specialists, country weeklies, big-city dailies, his own commercial shop during the Depression and finally 27 years in the composing room of the Oakland Tribune.
When retired he swore he’d never touch type or ink again. A few years away from the cases and he became homesick. ‘Twas then he bought a 3×5-in. Kelsey outfit. Madness smote him again and he bought 14 more cases of type and a 7×11-in. Chandler and Price O. S. No. 205. which is probably as old as he is. Now, back to work – Oh, well, I never did feel it was work!
A Remarkable Watch
“During my years as a newspaper worker,” began Thinspace Jones, “I met some very interesting persons – all in the business, as we’re fond of saying. One that gave me many a chuckle was born in England and slow to understand a joke. I told him some fantastic stories and I do think he believed ‘em all, at first.
“One day I told him I was only toiling there in order to have time to finish my newest invention. In fact, I just missed perfecting the atomic bomb in the 1940’s. I quit when the U.S. exploded the first one. After several days he asked me what I was working on now. Assuming an attitude of great secrecy, I told him I was planning a steam engine-driven watch! Later he asked me if I was pulling his leg. When I told him I was never more serious, he asked me what I expected to use for fuel. I snapped back, ‘corn cobs, you darned fool!’ and walked away.”
Personal Notes
Mrs. Othelia M. Scoville, Chairlady of Our Special’s Board (Southern District) sent a card from Wisconsin. She says the Fall weather a delight and she’s enjoying her visit.
Mr. Robert Lindacher visited western Canada this Fall in his car. He said the prospects for the future seem good.
Mr. and Mrs. Harlan D. Burbank took a 10-day auto tour through Southern California and Nevada. They must have moved quickly because they got back in five days!
Clem Anders told the Four Corners’ correspondent of Our Special that he shoed his mules for the last time, he hoped. When Clem was asked if he didn’t mean he’d shod the mules, he said, “Heck, no! I tuk a 2×4 an’ shoed ‘em outa my wife’s petunias!”
Printed Strictly for Entertainment by the Trivia Press of H. D. and Nell Burbank, Oakland, California 94602.