With the help of some brawn, some brains and a heavy-duty engine lift, my Vandy made its trek from one basement to another this weekend. No small amount of hours or energy were spent to ensure the move was a smooth one. I'm so grateful to have a community of people who were willing to take on this hefty task. See below a few pictures of the process.
The fellas used a lift to extract the 2000 pound beast from one garage and up into the bed of a truck for transport. First, they removed the carriage (which I was later told is not the best idea as it's a bear to put back on),* to make the transport a bit easier.
There was a precarious moment during which the lift dropped the press down onto the concrete in a quick and heart-wrenching thud. No one was hurt in the process, and
the press survived the beating, too.
Here she is sitting atop the bed of the F350 truck. What a haus.
The trickiest part may have been getting the truck up my driveway and into the garage to be lowered to the ground.
The guys handled it with class and (from my angle, what looked like) ease.
Here are the last few moments of the ordeal, the shuffling steps that put the press in it's resting place in my little studio. I love the sound of the feet on the concrete floor as they divided the weight among many hands, taking the small steps necessary to get it into the right place.
Without over-romanticizing, I actually think this moment illustrates a picture of what the last couple of years have been for me. When it came to knowing where my interest in the art of letterpress would take me, there were a lot of starts and stops. At times, the task of maneuvering my way into a world that I knew nothing of seemed entirely too big. I felt ill-equipped to find my place: a self-proclaimed crafter among real artisans. But it was -- it is-- a continual shuffle of small steps towards goals. It is a group effort, as I think on and thank the countless people who have carried my weight through their sharing, their teaching, their support.
I simply can't believe that I am now the proud owner of a Vandercook. I've woken up the past two mornings to sneak downstairs into the basement to have a look at it -- the proof that the working and waiting was not in vain. I now have cold hard proof that this adventure is real.
Thank God that though I felt like He may have had writer's block for a while, He's still writing my story.
* If you're a printer and have advice for me as I clean and replace the carriage, please do share! Any tips and/or resources are welcome.
