Press of the Varying Hare

I moved three presses to the new shop yesterday; things are starting to take shape. I bought this Vandecook 219 cylinder press from Leo Arkelian in 1999, moving it out of his trade shop (Halcraft Printing) on Robie Street in Halifax. Most of my best letterpress work has been done on this press.

19.11.2025 14:56 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I’m slowly shifting materials up to the new shop at Black River Lake. My library is mostly moved now, and my metal type and matrices. The big stuff (presses, casting gear) will follow soon. May beat winter yet.

01.11.2025 22:09 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

It's official! The Press of the Varying Hare will be a Heidelberg shop. I just landed a 1950s German Heidelberg T 10x15 automatic platen, a 'windmill’. I won't have this press in fighting form until later in 2026, but it's here in my barn waiting for the new printshop to be ready.

09.09.2025 09:19 — 👍 5    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I had a sign made to mount on my rural mailbox post. It's small, but not all wayfinding sings at the top of its voice. This sign’s job is simply to reassure those who already know what they are looking for that they are indeed in the right place (Yes, this long lane leads to your destination').

12.08.2025 20:18 — 👍 7    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

Meanwhile, up on the printshop roof.

11.08.2025 16:15 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I’m still doing a little printing in the old shop, finishing the last trade books before manufacturing shuts down this fall and the publishing company I cofounded in 1997 gets sold. This press is going to a new home, but most of the rest of the gear in this video will come with me to the new shop.

09.08.2025 15:03 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I’ve been building a home for my new printing and publishing venture, Press of the Varying Hare. Steel is nearly complete on three walls (the fourth will wood) and I will soon be on to the roof. Electrical work starts next week. Hope to be moving presses and type up by autumn. Stay tuned!

08.08.2025 14:29 — 👍 9    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0