On its way to HowDesignLive2024
We love our tabletop presses, but when the opportunity came to show off our Reliance Washington Hand Press at HowDesignLive2024, we couldn’t resist. It also was a great way to push forward our new capital campaign to raise another $335,000 towards our $550,000 goal of getting the Depot building open so all of you can come there to pull a print! It took many hands on deck to get this press ready for its adventure.
Board member/photographer/artist/designer Bryan Dahlberg has used the press to pull limited edition prints that he then marries with photography. He and Tom Parson put together the deconstructed press when it was acquired.
More on the history of the press below. But in case you’re anxious to help our campaign and want to know RIGHT NOW how to help, please donate here. The State Historical Fund has been invaluable in helping the Depot, but to finish construction and get the doors open for workshops and events, we also need you.
Rendering of the future top level of the Letterpress Depot
On the lower level, the Depot has two hand presses - one survived the SF earthquake!. The hand press evolved from wood to iron around 1800. Soon after, NY printer and grocer Samuel Rust patented some of the best ideas. He refused to sell out to his hated competitor, R. Hoe & Company, so Hoe had one of his employees tell Rust he also hated his boss and was setting up his own company. Rust gladly then sold him the patent and all his equipment for $3,000 and agreed to not compete for eight years. When the charade was revealed, Hoe took it all over and produced thousands of the model. (Rust went on to patent and sell lamps.) When the press patents expired, several other companies started turning out Washington presses.
Thinking Big! And gaining steam to get us down the tracks.
For more intel, follow us @letterpressdepot on Facebook & Instagram, @letpress on X, email info@letterpressdepot.com or call/text 720-480-5358.