Coasters such as these are one of the types of items David Jones and Denys Smith of Hideaway create with a 1898 Chandler Price printing press. (photo by Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

David Jones and Denys Smith and of Hideaway are the masterminds behind the Etsy shop Alias Smith and Jones ( https://www.etsy.com/shop/Aliassmithandjones ). Situated in the woods a short distance from Arp High School, Jones and Smith work inside a log cabin printing custom made items on a 1898 Chandler Price printing press. The duo enjoy using their vintage machine and hope to rekindle interest in traditional printing to others.

 

What do you make?

David: We make coasters out of print blocks, rubber stamps, wooden recipe cards, novelty cards for gift shops…a lot of stuff that has to do with letterpress printing. The letterpress has kind of been faded out over the years, but it’s trying to make a comeback. We’re trying to keep it going…keep the way printing was done a long time ago.

Denys: Aside from the rubber stamps, we also have the capabilities of making and selling print blocks for the letterpress.

 

How did you get started?

Denys: I’m a very crafty person. Basically he (David) was just doing the plates and stuff. Me, I’m all about the thinking outside of the box thing about what other people might be looking for. Some of the things like rubber stamps because we were making them anyway for other people, so why not design some of our own.

David: I started working for East Texas Engraving Company when it was in Tyler in 1971. I worked there until 2010. That’s what I knew how to do and after working there for over 40 years I decided to open it back up again as my own business as Jones Engraving. The Alias, Smith and Jones shop was a way to sell things.

 

How did you get your printing press?

Before East Texas shut down I made printing plates for a guy in the 70s. He then sold the plates to a man in New Iberia, Louisiana. He called me one day. He said, “Hey David, do you know anybody who wants to buy my little printing business?” I said, “I don’t know.” I didn’t do any printing then, I just made printing plates for the printers.

I asked him, “What kind of space does it take to operate this business?” He said, “Oh, you could operate it in a one car garage.” It didn’t take up any space at all so I said I might be interested in it. So I went down to New Iberia and looked at it and said, “Hey, I’ll buy it. What do you want for it?”

So I came back to Tyler and talked to my dad and said “We’ve got to go get some stuff.” He said “why?” and I said, “Because I bought a business.” I bought everything from him.

I bought the printing press. It’s a 1898 Chandler Price. He had two printing presses. I have the other one up in my other building I’m restoring; it’s a 1902 Chandler Price.

 

How has Etsy helped you sell your products?

David: On Etsy we can advertise and people will call us. We can do custom orders.

Denys: I love the thought that regular folks can go straight to it. That’s what Etsy’s really about. You’re cutting out a lot of the middle people. You can do things that are more personal. People spend a ridiculous amount of money on weddings and birthdays. They’re looking to get something different than what you can get from the store, and it’s a bonus if they can have some input too

 

What’s a memorable custom order you’ve made?

Denys: We made small recipe cards for a wedding once. They paired it with a miniature Tabasco bottle and salt and handed it out to their guests. We’ve also had baby footprints done. People send us the footprints from their babies and children and have a personal item made. I didn’t turn out the way I thought though because more people have made them as memorial pieces, so there’s sadness with it, but it makes them very happy to have something tangible. We’ve sold quite a few of those. Sometimes when you head down a road it will take a different turn. It’s a good thing.

 

How do you get people interested in the printing press?

David: One of my interests in setting this up is having little mini classrooms field days. Having certain grades (from Arp) come down and show the kids how things are printed and how they could print back then. It’s a novelty thing, but the school’s real close, and the kids could see something printed on a real machine.

Denys: Our dream is to have it sit on a trailer and take it around to trade shows to let other people see how it works.

 

What do you do outside of Etsy?

Denys: I’m a dental hygienist. I’ve been doing that for about 15 years.

David: I own Jones Engraving and we are both martial arts instructors.

Denys: He’s a 6th degree in Taekwondo, I’m just a lonely black belt.

 

Printing Press

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Aliassmithandjones

Alias Smith and Jones

Denys Smith & David Jones of Hideaway