Ink & Paper - Last Letterpress and Paper Company in Los Angeles

In 1929, the Los Angeles City Directory listed 42 letterpresses and 17 paper companies in Downtown. Now, there are only 2 left. One is the oldest paper shop in Los Angeles. The other is a printer that uses technology over 600 years old.
Directed by Ben Proudfoot
Breakwater Studios Ltd.
breakwaterstudios.com
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[@lauriemcmullan500]

I spent over 40 years in the letterpress printing industry in England. I just loved those smells as you came through the door into the comp-room, molten metal and on into the machine room with the distinctive sound of Heidelberg cylinders and Heidelberg Platens faithfully printing and die-cutting every sheet of paper and board in register. Nothing quite like it.

[@neinnine]

im so happy to see a ben proudfoot prod.

[@alannavarra7771]

The Ben Proudfoot who directed this is the same one who's doing a bunch of emotionally resonant videos for New York Times right now.

[@aaronposcovsky2385]

Love it! Great work

[@Bookerb2004]

There was a time in 89 I had 3 Lynotypes & a few ludlows... Old school

[@MartyBeardFace]

I hope they are still around, it's becoming a lost art.

[@Stinkyller]

Not really, in EU many press/printing companies still have and use (old) heidelberg cylinder to make amazing additions to business cards, etc.

[@cccalloway6224]

They're still around and the process is still being taught in various art programs at universities across the country

[@sujeetbajracharya5288]

I love letter press it's my family business and continue doing my work

[@AdorationChapel]

I worked a paper cutter machine as a kid. even though you couldn't cut your hand off some people worried that you still could. Brought back memories.

[@ReulMcGillolane]

You can still lower the "clamp" without pressing those buttons, by buddy lost a fingertip, not by the blade, but by getting it crushed!

[@AdorationChapel]

How?

[@ReulMcGillolane]

There's two things.. First a hydraulic clamp (foot lever operated), then the blade is operated by pressing the two buttons. He crushed his fingertip with the clamp.

[@davidkachel]

Great introduction. Where is the rest of the video?!!

[@Pearlflower1]

It feel so magical ,is it !

[@zulfarshaker7288]

I enjoyed the documentary and would love to support the paper company. Went on their site but there is no way to order paper and chipboard from them? I'm in San Diego. Anyone know if they take orders by mail shipment?

[@evindrews]

Who shot this and edited? It's absolutely excellent.

[@user-vo3oq4lz3k]

Letterpress