How I installed a motor on my press

Setting up my Chandler & Price to print more efficiently

Chandler & Price letterpress

When I first got my press, Joan Holloway Harris, aka Joanie, she came with a motor that was so old it looked like it would catch on fire if I plugged it in. I printed by hand (manually turning the flywheel for every print, which was a great workout) until I could figure out how to install something different.

I bought a treadle, but it turns out my crankshaft was replaced with a straight shaft and there was nothing for it to hook on to. I went back to printing by hand, but as my orders have increased, I needed a way to print faster to keep up.

My husband made it his personal mission to get a motor up and running. After some trial and error, he was successful! Since there are so few resources, we wanted to share our process.

We started with a 3 phase motor with 1/2 horsepower. It hooks up to a VFD (variable frequency drive) TECO Westinghouse L510 on the wall. The VFD makes it possible to use the 110v wall outlet and convert to 3 phase electricity, which is then sent it back to the motor. The VFD allows me to adjust the speed of the motor. The V belt pulley on the motor uses an 86 inch type A belt, which hooks up to a pulley that was already in place on the straight shaft.

3 phase motor

pulley and belt

VFD

It's important to make sure the cables being used are rated for the proper voltage.

Feel free to ask any questions below!

Custom vs. Semi Custom Wedding Invitations

There are so many options available when it comes to ordering wedding invitations. Here are a few:

• Digital Templates

• Semi Custom

• Fully Custom

• Paperless / Digital Invitations

Digital Templates

Templates are an easy and budget friendly way to order wedding invitations. After you place your order, a link is sent to you. The link will take you to a website like Corjl or Templett where you will edit the invitation yourself. After you've saved your design, you can then send it to a commercial printer (like Zazzle). I have a few templates available on Etsy.

Semi Custom Invitations

Semi Custom invitations combine the ease of a template with the feel of a fully custom experience. There's already a design created and you get to work with a stationer who will personalize it for you and handle printing. Every stationer is different regarding the amount of changes you can make.

Our semi custom collection is truly customizable. You can choose between cotton or handmade paper, pick your ink colors, envelope colors, envelope liner pattern, and font/calligraphy style!

letterpress wedding invitation with calligraphy on handmade paper

Custom Invitations

Custom wedding invitations are a truly custom experience. You start by giving your stationer details such as your names, wedding date, wedding location, number of guests, and style / color preferences. Often, a mood board or Pinterest board is helpful. Your stationer will create a completely custom design that no one else has. You can also make requests such as mixing paper types, include a venue illustration, create a custom crest or monogram. Your stationer will usually work with different artists and vendors to bring your vision to life.

Paperless / Digital Invitations

As more people use technology and the internet as their main method of communication, digital invitations are increasingly popular. They operate in the same way as a digital template, but instead of sending the design to a printer, they are sent via email to your guests. This method assumes everyone on your guest list has access to the internet and is computer savvy.

semi custom letterpress wedding invitation

These are the four main methods of sending invitations to guests! Which is your favorite?

What are envelope liners? Do we need them?

Envelope liners are pieces of paper or card stock that are adhered to the inside of an envelope.

Originally, envelope liners were used to protect the contents from the elements or even from the envelope itself (such as a colored envelope rubbing off on a letter).

They're not terribly common with every day mail, but they're gaining popularity for wedding invitations and formal events. These are a cost effective upgrade to really add additional design elements to your suite. They can be patterned, a photo, or even just one solid color.

We can color match your liner to your envelope, or find something complimentary!