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Soundtrack for the moment 11-14-22

It's Monday, November 14th.

Soundtrack for the moment:

Charles Mingus Quintet - Haitian Fight Song

Defiant. Rolling. Thumping and blowing.

Mingus: "Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity."

Pictured above is of the "fiddleink" Linotype model 31 machine located at its former digs on North Interstate Avenue in Portland.

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Linotype Machines in the News November 21, 2019

This edition of “Linotype Macines in the News” commemorates Margaret 'Peg' Champney of Yellow Springs, Ohio who worked at the local newspaper for 68 years. It mentions Linotype operation only briefly - maintenance and operation of a line caster was just one of the jobs that Mrs. Champney was responsible for during her tenure at the paper. I was born in Xenia, Ohio just 10 miles south of Yellow Springs, so I found this article particularly interesting. As my brother and I were coming up, we viewed this town was a tiny oasis. Due in part to the sizable student population of Yellow Springs, a visit to Yellow Springs offered new perspective. For us it served as a lens which was focused on the distant horizons beyond the corn fields and nearby Dayton, Ohio's industrial cityscape. It was and is a special place. I recall picking up the Yellow Springs News on several occasions, and even remember visiting the office a couple of times. So it was a treat to read this story about Peg's career, and to gain some insight on how this small town paper contributed to the unique culture of Yellow Springs. Her story is an inspiring one. Her strength, independence and dedication to the mission of the free press undoubtably influenced many of us who directly or indirectly crossed her path, whether we were aware of it or not!

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Poetry Fire! 2020

This poster hangs on the backside of our garage in the window facing out towards our backyard. Printed in an edition of 8 or so, set in Kabel wood type and hand inked, it was designed to catch the attention of one person for whom the event was for. That is, my partner Rebecca. We were looking for an excuse to reacquaint ourselves with the poetry chapbooks sitting on our shelves in the house. So, during our first stage* covid-lock-down-backyard-hang-outs (the two of us) we'd read poetry around the backyard fire pit. We made a cocktail for the event as well. Recipe below.

Poetry Fire Cocktail

2 oz bourbon

1 oz lemon juice

¾ oz maple syrup

2 pinches fresh grated ginger

Backdate blog

*During the first stage of the pandemic, when very little was known about the Coronavirus - at a time where it was rumored that people could be stricken instantly with the bug, and drop dead to the sidewalk with no warning (remember that? yes, during the early months of 2020 this tale had traction) Also, I believe at this time the idea of transmission through aerosols was down played, and the focus was on transmission through touch. Impenetrable objects could host the virus for 72 hours or more, so you better not touch anything. That was the thought. Anyway, it was during this time that a lot of the world shut down. It was quiet. People were scared. I still worked and showed up in-person with my colleagues as an essential worker at the light rail train-yard. My brother still worked and showed up in person at the waste water treatment plant. People who turned wrenches, people who drove trucks, people who worked in the business of making food, moving food, delivering food, selling food, people who monitored systems of civilization did not slow their pace. They all showed up to work. At the time, many people who didn't work those types of jobs and who were sent home to hunker down recognized these workers as heroes. It was a sentiment that was very short lived. Anyway, I'll steer away from the bitter tone here, I just wanted to document that thought somehow. As a reminder. Perhaps another time will be appropriate to expound on those thoughts.

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On-Line Launch of the C.C. Stern Type Foundry Poets Laureate Broadside series this evening!

As the dust has been settling from the recent C.C. Stern Type Foundry move to its new pole barn home in Clatskanie, my colleagues at the foundry have also been busy coordinating the release of a broadside that is the first in a series highlighting Pacific Northwest Poets Laureate. This first broadside features a poem by Samuel Green (Poet Laureate of Washington State 2007-2009), written in honor of the life of our friend, mentor, master craftsman and the organization's name sake: Chris Stern. Join us on-line for the launch of this broadside and of the series this Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Details for the event are here. The event is free, but an RSVP is required. I hope to see you there live on the internets.

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All Night Long • Foghorn Stringband (circa 2006) • Live at the Cobblestone Pub • Dublin, Ireland

Video of Foghorn Stringband from May 6th 2006. Thanks to Bill Whelan (Rough Deal String Band, OXO boys) for documenting this gig.

In the key of "C" which means some fun bass runs and walks and stumbles. I also recall playing this tune with the Dickel Brothers. And with Crackerbox, a too-short-lived string band with P.T. Grover playing some of the crunchiest syncopated old time guitar I've ever heard, and Jason Noice playing high energy precision fiddle that also had plenty of sink-your-teeth-into-the-crunch under the hood. It's a fun tune, I'm glad that it's captured here with the Foghorn Crew.

The players:

Stephen "Sammy" Lind: Fiddle

Caleb Klauder: Mandolin

The Reverend P.T. Grover, Jr.: Banjo

Kevin Sandri: Guitar

Brian Scott Bagdonas: String Bass

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Musing: Lizard not Salamander

Today I discovered that lizards live in this part of the world. In the cold rainy Pacific Northwest. Approximately 45 minutes from where the film "Goonies" was shot. If that helps you get a picture of how very un-lizard this environment is, or at least one would think so. But, sure enough. Lizards. Not Salamanders. How did I learn this? Our resident lizard told me. I'm at the new location of the print shop, also the new location of the C.C. Stern Type Foundry. Or rather, soon to be. Construction is under way. It's a place we're calling "Type Hive" in part because two owners of the property are beekeepers, and in part because it is a "hive" of print activity. But now, it's quiet. And this lizard tells me that we disrupted its house during our construction. Which was a strange thing, because the lizard and I don't speak the same language, but I knew. We are making a path from the new Type Foundry building to the Print building. That's where the lizard was living. Under some bricks which were recently moved. Of course we didn't know that before we moved the bricks. After the lizard confronted me, I realized that its home was quite nice. Those bricks held whatever southern sun warmth was available in this otherwise cold and wet environment. The lizard is a Northern Alligator Lizard. Life span up to 10 years. Imagine that. The brick move happened about 5 days ago. The lizard had "words" with me today. It didn't leave the area where its original house was. I'm hoping that this means the lizard will find its new digs acceptable. I re-built a brick house for it, near the original home but out of the way of the direct path of the new Type Foundry building. I made sure that the new structure is south facing, and added multiple entrances and pathways to the new home. It's a decent place. Or seems to be. I hope the lizard moves in.

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"Continue Us" Now available for purchase.

During a hike at Eagle Creek well over ten years ago, and well before Eagle Creek caught on fire (but that's another story), my good buddy Marko Whens and I discussed opportunities for collaborating on a print project. At that point, Marko had amassed a collection of his interactive poems, and I had just amassed another chunk of cast iron in the form of a Linotype machine. The machine needed work, and I needed work to move beyond my fledgling knowledge of Linotype machine operation. A deal was struck. After the work day was complete at Stumptown Printers, I would sift through matrices and molds, and use Marko's poems as material to test the machine and my knowledge. Slowly type was set, the machine was repaired and I gained some Linotype chops. But, job work took over and the type was stashed on galleys to gather dust for many years. In late 2018, and once we faced the reality that the increasing cost of rent for the shop was no longer tenable, I rediscovered those galleys and prioritized casting the remainder of the type before the machine would be placed in deep storage. Typecasting was complete, but the shop move took over, and once again the type sat - this time in boxes until our temporary garage shop was finished. The book was finally completed in late 2019. Marko would hold an event in the Spring of 2020 to launch to book release. But, a pandemic happened. So, I'm excited to let you know, that after many years, that book release finally happened on April 2 at Passages Bookshop. The book is also now available for purchase here on this site. For more details on the book, go here.

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C.C. Stern Type Foundry "The Point" 2021 newsletter is in the mail

2021 issue of the C.C. Stern Type Foundry Newsletter "The Point" is in the mail. See previous posts here and here) We're pleased with the quality of the type, the metal was consistent, face was clean and weight was solid. We did have an issue with the exclamation point (this is a "note to self" to check it out when I'm back at the Foundry) it did not print cleanly - I suspect that there is some flashing stuck in the matrix. Luckily we had cast plenty of sorts, and were able to use the best (!) to achieve a satisfactory exclamation.

If you are not on the C.C. Stern Type Foundry mailing list and you would like to receive a copy of "The Point" 2021 newsletter cast and printed with metal type, visit the website and sign up for the mailing list and/or donate (The C.C. Stern Type Foundry is an Oregon 501(c)3 non-profit organization) some funds towards postage. I believe there are about 30 prints remaining after this current mailing.

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C.C. Stern Type Foundry "The Point" newsletter progress

Type has been cast, Linotype border material also cast (see previous blog) and ink is going down on the C.C. Stern Type Foundry “The Point” newsletter as I type this. We should have them in the mail by the end of the week. Would you like one? Visit the C.C. Stern Type Foundry Donation page and donate some funds towards postage (or however much your generous-type-foundry-supporting-heart desires ) and we’ll get you a copy hot off the presses.

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Typetober

The machines were humming at the C.C. Stern Type Foundry today. Connie, Joe, and Rebecca were working on the comp caster and had success in casting type for our upcoming issue of The Point. Jeff and I filled a Linotype galley with decorative border rule (also for The Point) and type to be used for bookplates. It has been a gorgeous day out here in the Pacific Northwest, made better with the gathering of the type casting crew and happy machines.

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Making Waves

Fresh silver. Cast from two matrix slides, wave rule 6pt 134B and regular rule 407. This casting was the result of an afternoon of making adjustments to the Linotype Model 31 at the C.C. Stern Foundry this past weekend. The machine is now in adjustment, and these beauties are ready for ink.

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Linotype wave rule 6pt 134B Fiddleink print 007

Mixing verticals and horizontals. Wave border 6pt 134B cast with 8pt mold. 9 pieces trimmed to 6 picas makes a perfect square and creates an opportunity for some overprinting shenanigans. I was surprised at the results of the overprint - I hadn't expected the pattern to look like this, but I'm not going to argue with the magic of print and Linotype wave border rule.

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Foghorn Stringband - Mother's Prayers Were Not In Vain

Here's another song from recently found DVDs which contain a couple Foghorn Stringband gigs in Ireland from back in 2006. Documented by Bill Whelan (Rough Deal String Band, OXO boys). Thanks Bill! This is first generation Foghorn Stringband; at the time the line up was: Stephen "Sammy" Lind - Fiddle, Caleb Klauder - Mandolin, The Reverend P.T. Grover, Jr. - Banjo, Kevin Sandri - Guitar, Vocals and myself on string bass. I don't recall playing this song much. But a memorable occasion was when we played the song (perhaps for the first time) in Golden Gate Park after a passerby requested a song "about momma" Kevin made it through a verse or so before the fella broke down into tears. It was a little awkward to be playing in the park while an audience of one was rolling around in the grass wailing, but I suppose that's one way music can move you. When we finished the song, he thanked us and moved on. It was a sobering moment for all involved.

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Join the C.C. Stern Type Foundry on-line for a "Type Jam" with Jason Dewinetz at Greenboathouse Press

C.C. Stern Type Foundry's Summer Type Jam will be held via Zoom and hosted by Jason Dewinetz at Greenboathouse Press. Monday, August 24, 2020 12:00 PM (Pacific Time) Jason is up and running in his recently constructed shop space. I’m excited to have a peek at his new digs and hopefully see some of his recent work. I’m sure it’s going to be good. The guy is an amazing craftsman – his print work will make your jaw hit the floor. And I see on his website that he is wearing a “Skull Skates” printer’s apron. I didn’t know such a thing existed. Jason is that kind of fella. Please join us later today! Here's a link to the official invite and additional information. While you're there, please consider signing up to the C.C. Stern Type Foundry Mailing list to learn about current happenings and future events.

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Rediscovered video of Foghorn Stringband at the Cobblestone Pub in Dublin, back in 2006

I recently rediscovered DVDs containing Foghorn Stringband gigs in Ireland from back in 2006. This is first generation Foghorn String band; at the time the line up was: Stephen "Sammy" Lind - Fiddle, Caleb Klauder - Mandolin, The Reverend P.T. Grover, Jr. - Banjo, Kevin Sandri - Guitar, and myself on string bass. This clip was from a gig at the Cobblestone pub in Dublin, documented by Bill Whelan who was kind enough to send me a copy of the DVD way back when. Thanks, Bill! The Cobblestone was one of our favorite places to play - as I recall, we traveled from the states that day, and played the gig that evening. The tune in this clip is "Black Mountain Rag." Kevin was working on replacing a guitar string so the melody section started the tune. The Rhythm section jumps in mid way through the tune.

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Mother Foucault's August 2018 Events Calendar

Way back when, Mother Foucault's bookshop had their events calendar composed and printed using Linotype matter. That was way back in '18. 2018. Okay, it happened twice. For July, and the one pictured here for August. Craig dropped off his handwritten notes, I then clipped the notes to the Linotype copy tray, and there it would sit for several days while job work was being completed. One midnight, Craig showed up unannounced while I was just getting started on the August events calendar. It must have been the middle of August at that point. He was good natured about the delay, but that was the last time I printed the bookshop's event calendar. I don't know if this one ever saw the light of day. So I'm posting pics of it now. This edition included Edwin Rolfe's "A poem to delight my friends who laugh at science fiction" which seems at home on newsprint, and which I enjoy reading again and again. The type is Linotype 8^502 Excelsior with Memphis Bold. Edition of 300. Printed on newsprint.

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The Point.

Another print run of “The Point.” The Point is a newsletter from the C.C. Stern Type Foundry. With “miscellaneous missives” penned by foundry volunteers. Composition was originally cast at the 11th hour before leaving for the 2018 American Type Casting Fellowship Conference. Types used: Linotype 10pt Caledonia 496 with Metro Medium and italic 462. Heading is set in Jensen Bold and cast on the Ludlow. There’s a sampling of DeVinne Monotype No. 11 cast on the Monotype sorts caster. Also miscellaneous Lino and Monotype decorative material.