Breathing New Life Into an Old Press: Our 2025 ArtPrize Entry
This year at ArtPrize, we’re opening our doors in a way that feels both historic and fresh: live demonstrations of our fully restored Old Style Gordon press. For us at Swift Printing, this isn’t just about showcasing a piece of equipment, it’s about honoring three generations of tradition, celebrating the craft of letterpress printing, and inviting the community to experience the magic of print firsthand.
Restoring a Piece of History
Back in 2021, our teammate and offset expert Dave took on the task of restoring the Old Style Gordon press. Piece by piece, he brought this 19th-century workhorse back to life, teaching our team along the way. Here’s our team “installing it in the front office.”
For a company like ours, celebrating 75 years in business in 2025, there’s something deeply moving about keeping a press like this alive. It’s more than nostalgia. It’s about connecting past, present, and future in a way you can actually see, hear, and feel.
From Digital to Letterpress: The Best of Both Worlds
Our ArtPrize piece brings together the efficiency of modern print with the timeless artistry of letterpress. We designed and digitally printed the front of each postcard, giving it vibrancy and detail. Then, one by one, we ran each card through the Gordon press to imprint “Bridge Street” on the back.
That second pass—the impression—is what makes letterpress special. You can run your fingers across the paper and feel the slight impression of the type. It transforms an ordinary postcard into something tactile, something you’ll want to keep.
This marriage of digital and traditional printing reflects who we are at Swift: forward-thinking but always rooted in craft.
Fun Fact: When letterpress was in it’s prime, if you could feel and impression it was considered poor quality. You just wanted to have the ink rest on top of the paper. Now it is wildly popular to have the impression deep into the paper.
Passing Down the Craft
Once Dave had restored the press and trained us, he passed the baton to our team. Today, JP is the lead operator, keeping the press running smoothly and showing visitors how it works. There’s a rhythm to the process—the inking, the feed, the impression—that draws people in.
During ArtPrize, guests can watch the Gordon press in action, hear the hum and clank of its movement, and even walk away with a freshly printed postcard.
Watch the process here.
Why Letterpress Still Matters
In an age where most things happen on a screen, letterpress printing reminds us to slow down. It’s about more than ink on paper—it’s about texture, craftsmanship, and intention. Every impression tells a story.
For anyone searching for letterpress printing in Grand Rapids, or curious about custom letterpress invitations, business cards, or postcards, our ArtPrize entry is proof that this centuries-old art form still belongs in a modern print shop.
An Invitation
We’d love for you to stop by during ArtPrize 2025 to see the Gordon press in action. Hold a postcard in your hand. Ask us questions about the restoration process. Watch JP run the press with the same care that printers have used for over a hundred years.
Our entry isn’t just about art—it’s about keeping craft alive, sharing it with our community, and inspiring the next generation to appreciate the beauty of print.
