As at November 2011, this rather underwhelming bit of webbery is the temporary page for the Vortex Press. The Vortex Press was started in September 2011, and is the name I give to my spare-time hobby of letterpress printing. I am currently busily engaged in printing a good number of Christmas cards for ourselves, and for a few friends. So busy that I haven't got time to write a website for the Press!
I guarantee that the website will get better as soon as the initial rush of Christmas printing dies down.
This is also the home of www.vorticist-press.co.uk which was the previous name of the Press. So the Press name was The Vorticist Press from September 2008 to September 2011, at which point the name was changed to The Vortex Press. The old domain has been retained, and points to this website.
Although I have dabbled in letterpress printing for some years, things really took off when I became the proud owner of a Furnival 'Express' jobbing platen from the 1890's, which was purchased in September 2008. It is an impressive piece of Victorian engineering, and is made of cast iron, phospor bronze and steel. It was moved from its' old home at Bridport to Hook in Hampshire. It is capable of much greater impression than a hand press such as an Adana 8x5, and so I can now realize some of the printing ideas I have carried with me for some time.
I changed the name to the simpler 'Vortex Press' as it is easier to say than 'Vorticist' (especially by those to whom the word is new). It will also get me out of having to explain the concept, practice and history of Vorticism. I don't mind explaining but I think a name fails if it needs explanation. If you know what a vortex is then the new name has worked. If you don't then I hope 'vortex' sounds dynamic anyway!
The name 'Vortex Press' is still inspired by Vorticism. The root word in Vorticism is 'vortex', of course. Therefore it will still have a strong link with Vorticism.
Please contact me on info@vortexpress.com.
Cheers Tyrone