So what's the deal?
Albatross press is a imprint I am using for two (occationally) related interrests of mine- Letterpress and Print-On-Demand Publishing. In the past I have done more letterpress projects, but my time to devote to it is limited. Recently I have been exploring developing projects for RPGs, and using print on demand to publish them. Rather then create a new brand, I am just expanidn tthe definition of what Albatross is.
The Press Itself
The Albatross Press is a 'Figure Four' Washington iron hand printing press that is at least a century old. It was forged in Middetown, NY and has a large press bed, so it may have been originally created for newspaper or some other industrial use.
My father found the press in the sub basement of the Donaldson Art Sign Company in the late 60s, where it had been used as a proofing press for enabled tin signs. (It can deboss a serious amount of pressure.) He bought it from the foreman for about $5 and took it home to fix it up.
When I was growing up, my father used it to print Christmas cards or invitations to the annual 'Burgoo parties' we held, by hand cutting linoleum blocks and doing block prints.