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Beside the Press at the Sign of the Bilious Bull
Genesis
“What shall we do – set some more on Masaka, or get out a paper?” asks Burton. ‘Tain’t proper to visit his place without celebrating with a paper. Let’s start another Weaker Moments…
Original members of the Amateur Printers Club found fellowship and stimulation in monthly visits to one another’s homes and printshops back in 1931-33. At first, members took turns at printing the quarterly club paper, alone. Later when revived in 1941, they began working together during meetings to produce a souvenir of the occasion. From this source has stemmed a series of Old Meanies, Weaker Moments, and now, Once Overs – all celebrating the gathering of two or more garrulous printers in one steaming cellar or frigid attic printshop.
We like the idea. There’s quite a thrill in later years, scanning thru a pile of papers, in pausing to reminisce: “Doggone, here’s that APC News we put out in my old shop back in March ‘41: ‘33 at Great Neck Brawl Stage a Miniature Convention; APC Crowds Babcock House To Capacity.’” That really was a party!
Bradofksky Hung in Metropolitan!
The NAPA’s martyred President of 1935-36 achieved lasting fame in this world recently when accepted for hanging in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lt. Hyman Bradofsky, now in England, sent a Christmas card to Vondy McDonald this past year – not usual, except that this “card” was a scene reproduced on V-mail stationery. Vondy turned the card over to an acquaintance who maintains a collection at the Met showing trends in Xmas card designs. New York amateurs thereby were assured of a visit from Hyman at his very earliest inconvenience.
PAPA TRAINER has been promoted to Draft Grade A-1 and expects “to-go” shortly, while George Andersen (erroneously reported in APC News as now in service) is still on the loose – an essential consulting cog of a vital radio maker. Lt. Meyer Perlgut writes from the Aleutians where he goes skiing on his weekend spare moments. Crane will socka Cole in a new Masaka now half printed. Cole has bought a 9 x 13 Peerless press to hasten his retorts.
Crane wants to sell his old 7×11 press to make room for a new paper cutter he’s buying. Felicitas Haggerty is now congenially employed in a CPA firm for which Vincent formerly worked. She plans to remain at 21 Segman Court, continuing the NAPA Clearing House (of The National Amateur), and keeping Vincent’s cherished collection of amateur papers intact. George Andersen may print a final issue of Leisure Hours for her soon, using some material which Vincent had written and also reprinting Thrift’s article (“Cleveland Nights”) about Brodie’s printshop, which Vincent had reset in linotype last year. Scarlet Cockerel number 20 is in press, and number 16 is a page or so closer to completion.
Massachusetts leaders are wondering who is going to take charge of convention arrangements at the coming Boston affair. Appointment of a convention arrangements chairman would be in order RIGHT NOW, Prexy Holman!
Those who like constitutional amendments should have a bellyful choosing among the 38 proposals now in Willametta’s hands. Sounds as tho ex-prexy Houtain’s proposal to end all proposals for a period of five years might well be in order.
Mac Sinclair of Cartoons renown may be one of the next of the revivified oldtimers. George Macauley has bought a new home and Robie refers to his dad’s building a new printshop.
Has Anyone a Spare Copy of These?
Lucky Dog
Volume 1, Number 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Volume 2, Number 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Volume 3, Number 1, 3, 4, 6
Volume 4, Number 1, 2, 3, 4
Volume 5, Number 1, 2, 5, 6
Volume 7, Number 4, 5, 6
Olympian
Volume 2, Number 5, 6
Volume 3, Number 1, 3, 4, 5
Volume 4, Number 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Volume 5, Number 1, 2, 3, 6
Dilettante
Volume 1, Number 1 through 12
Torpedo
Number 1 through 13, 15, 16
Volume 4, Number 4, 6
Volume 5, Number 1, 2
Volume 6, Number 4, 5, 6
Volume 7, Number 2, 3, 5
Friendly Quill
Any issues.
These issues are needed to complete my files.
Some a.j.’s have a marked tendency to ramble in their speech or writing but few can match the marked tendency to ramble exemplified in this Weaker Moments. Page 1 was set in Burton Crane’s cellar February 9, but a waiting taxi for the last NY train till after midnite forestalled printing it until we got home. Then we hustled upstairs to Ed Cole’s second-floor Pinebirch Press to set and print p. 2 February 13, trotting back down to do p. 3 in the ground-floor sunporch housing the remnants of our own Scarlet Cockerel Press. By rights p. 4 should have been done in an attic shop, but the best we could do was utilize the fourth-floor press of Warren Brodie in Cleveland, from whence this 10th issue of Ralph Babcock’s Weaker Moments emanates 19 Feb. ‘44.