Paper. Reams and reams of paper. Not your normal sized paper. We are talking 70 inches plus.
This was my life for well over 20 years. Our family owned a small print shop and spent a lot of time there working together. A lot of time.
We printed 500 business cards or thousands of full-color brochures. Our customers ranged from small business to the hospital and college. Everyone needed paper covered by ink, folded just so.
Until copiers came on scene making most printing presses obsolete. Our business closed. We went toward different careers.
The world needs paper. I still smell the ink.
(not ours, but very similar to our Heidelburg press. We printed thousands of brochures using that press – one color at a time – one side at a time. It was an art – run by Art.)
Written for the 100 Word Challenge as hosted by Tara. The word this week is PAPER. Now, you go find some paper and jot down your 100.
There is a special aroma about a printing press the you never forget. I once worked at a small town newspaper, that had its printing facility on the ground floor of its business. Some of the old-timers said the ink gets into your blood.
oh, so true, Tara. Hubby’s hands still show signs. 🙂 And, oldest daughter just started working for the local paper . . . found some of our old equipment and several old files with her dad’s handwriting on and in them. She felt like coming home.
A lovely insight and a great last line.
Enjoyed
Ally 🙂
I’ve never actually seen a printing shop or a press, but your description makes me wish that I could still visit one nowadays, just to experience it for myself!
My family didn’t have a print shop, but we did have a hometown hardware store that is now a thing of the past. My heart still yearns for the atmosphere, the sights and the sounds and the memories are still vivid and deeply ingrained in me. Sigh!
I don’t know much about print shops but I’ll tell you what I do miss…bookstores. They are closing, left and right, by me. We had a Barnes and Noble just close and now…there’s nothing. Not a single bookstore around. And that is so upsetting!
I can still remember when our school newspaper had a “layout”, just so, before it went to the printer. Those were good times.
Instant printing just doesn’t have the same ‘feel’ as the old way. I’m feeling old and nostalgic now.