Old-time Presses In A Modern World

"It works quite well, but the safety people won't allow us to have it in the shop or use it in front of the public," he notes. "People might stick their hands in the kettle." Instead, he uses kerosene, or, for more thorough cleaning, a modern solvent.

Hot, humid weather also affected the machinery in those un-air conditioned times. "The biggest problem is how changes in the weather can affect the press," says Williamsburg's Parker, adding, "We have summer inks and winter inks—like using a different weight of oil for your car."