Create Handcrafted Content
Handcraft your own greeting cards, posters, or ads using the classic style offered by printing press machines.
Learn a Timeless Art
Larks Nest's Welding classes offer a unique chance to learn a form of art that dates back to 1798 and still used in current day for it's irreplaceable style.
Studio Equipment
LETTERPESS, INTAGLIO PRINTMAKING, & LITHOGRAPHY:
In-house Reference Library including Example Plates & Original Prints
LARGE INTAGLIO PRESS - ca 1980s
Provenance - Tim Gibbons, Florida Artist – Printmaker, Painter
Procured from: Artist
Surface: 24" x 36"
M.M. Kelton D Cylinder copperplate press – ca 1890 - 1910 www.amazon.com/Buell-Lee-Whitehead-Printmaker-Lithographer
Provenance - Buell Lee Whitehead, Florida Artist – Printmaker (1919-1993)
Procured from: Ronald Newsome, Arcadia, FL
Cylinder: 14” x 12”
Bed: 15” x 36”
Maximum Plate: 13.5” x 11”
Unknown Cast Iron Etching Press – ca 1900s - 1910s http://www.lasanskyart.com/
Provenance - Mauricio Leib Lasansky – Argentine Artist – Printmaker (1914-2012)
Procured from: Iowa Wesleyan University, Mount Pleasant, IA
Bed: 16” x 40”
Maximum Plate: 15.5” x 36”
Golding & Co. Pearl No.14 Letterpress – ca 1896 https://www.circuitousroot.com/artifice/letters/press/presses/golding/pearl/index.html
Provenance – Unknown
Procured from: Port Charlotte, FL
3 Chases: 9” x 14”
Custom Rollers by Todd’s Press Time, LLC
Kelsey Excelsior letterpress – ca mid 1900s
Provenance – Unknown
Procured from: Brooksville, FL
1 Chase: 3” x 5”
Custom Rollers by Todd’s Press Time, LLC
Cincinnati Type Foundry Galley Proof Press - ca 1800s
Paper Guillotine - ca 1940s
Provenance – James McGraw, Ohio
Donated By: James McGraw
Vandercook / Morgan Line-O-Scribe - ca 1950s
Golding Pearl 5x8 - ca 1900s
LETTERPRESS MATERIALS:
Hamilton Oak Job Case Double Cabinet – ca late 1800s
Provenance – Unknown
Procured from: Boca Raton, FL
48 job cases & lead type – with 1 to 3 fonts per case
2-person standing slanted work surface
Hamilton Steel Triple-wide Cabinet (houses Wood Type & Cuts)
Provenance – Unknown
Procured from: Motorcycle Builder in Tampa (used as Toolbox)
Hamilton Metal Job Case Cabinet – ca 1940s – 1950s
Provenance – James McGraw, Ohio
Procured from: James McGraw
22 job cases & lead type
MDF flat work surface
Hamilton Furniture Case with Metal Furniture - ca 1930s
Provenance – Pennsylvania
Procured from: Auction House
Hamilton Furniture Case with Wood Furniture – ca early 1900s
Provenance – Unknown
Procured from: Port Charlotte, FL
Wood Job Case Cabinet-
Provenance – Unknown
Donated By: Jan Norris, Riviera Beach
Also donated by Jan Norris: Furniture, Lead Type, Challenge Proof Press (missing roller brackets/braces), various ink,
Metal Job Case Cabinet, various job cases
Woodblock Type – Ever-expanding collection. Approximately 50 job cases as of 2025
Publishing Cuts – Approximately 250 images
Lead Type – 100+ complete sets PLUS Frames, Wingdings, Shapes & Icons, Bullets, Monograms, Perforations, Lines
Quoins & Composing Sticks
Ink – Variety of Acrylic, Rubber, and Oil-Based Ink including Metallic, Extender & Transparency Medium / Base
Stone Lithography: https://litografia.pl/en/process/
Materials: 3 Lithography Stones, Levigator, Ink, Korn Litho Crayons (1-5 hardness)
Etching: https://www.parkwestgallery.com/how-are-etchings-made/
Materials: Copper Plates, Zinc Plates, Hard & Soft Ground, Burin, Etching Powder, Etching Solution, Brunt Plate Oil, Flash Oil, Acids
Engraving: https://www.artlex.com/printing/engraving/ / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engraving
Materials: Gravers (+60 hand gravers, with + 20 different cuts), burnishers, sharpening stones & jigs, Copper plates, Ink, Hot Plate, Linen Cheesecloth, LED Woodblock & Linocut:
Materials: Carving Tools, Sharpening Stones, Wood, Hard & Soft Linoleum, Brayers (Ink Rollers 2” - 6”), Ink (water & oil-based), Mulberry Paper
BOOK PRESS - Late 1800s
GENERAL MATERIALS:
3’ x 5’ Metal Table
Electric hydraulic craft table (24” to 54” height)
Work Aprons (Small to XXXL), Gloves, Eye protection
Brayers, Inks, Glass inking plates
Solvent Dispenser
Flour sack cloths