REBUS recap – August 2009 at Firecracker Press
– Eric Woods, Firecracker Press
Many walked through the doors of Firecracker Press not knowing what to expect, but several left with an appreciation for an antique technique that spruces personalized creations. Eric Woods invited Rebus to learn the ins and outs of St. Louis’ only letterpress printing shop and graphic design studio on August 11, 2009. Rebus and Ad Club members from all over St. Louis filled the shop to the brim with curiosity.
The event attendees started by wandering thru a hands-on demonstration of the letterpress printing from start to finish. This hands-on approach allowed them to not only visualize but get our hands dirty to fully understand this lengthy but rewarding process. After the demonstration, everyone gathered in the front of the shop to hear what drives Firecracker Press to continue with this old-fashioned technique. Eric explained how it all started with the invention of Johannes Gutenberg’s movable type in the year 1400 that allowed for mass production of printed items such as books. Prior to movable type literature and printed items were only available to the rich due to the cost and lengthy process of hand written pages.
Now days, letterpress machines come in all sizes and various styles. At Firecracker Press, they have a large collection of machines and fonts dating back over 100 years which allow them to offer their clients a wide variety of customization. Firecracker Press enjoys keeping the tradition alive and offering quality printing not available through other means. The process starts from the design to the carving and then the final product.
Firecracker Press is able to match any PMS and is available for all projects big or small. The earlier that Firecracker Press gets involved the better the results. They work with individuals, corporations, agencies, etc. to fulfill their production needs. They won’t take a digital file and mass produce it but if you allow them to introduce the benefits of working with letterpress they can add a personalized touch to your final product. They’ve worked with a large variety of clients including but not limited to Schlafley, Purina, SLU Billikens Club, Argosy Casino, and Forest Park (Rogers Townsend).
Call them for your next project, event posters, business cards, party invitations, advertising and more. From design approval, they guarantee to turn everything around and give you a finished product in 3 weeks.
“We are new to Ad Club but we’re pleased to share the history of printing to any and all those who are happy to listen. Looking around last night at all those eager and curious faces made for a great night. We feel that we introduced many open minds to the wonders and advantages of letterpress printing.”
– Eric, Firecracker Press
“Although we cannot use these techniques in our daily process, I feel that it was well presented and I learned some great information.”
– Michael, Technisonic
“I really enjoyed their presentation. This is my first Rebus event. It’s really great to go inside the places you drive by so many times.”
– Linda, Kimberly Clarke
