The Long

Our journey begins in 1955 Chicago, Illinois with Thomas Johnsen and his wife Dorothy working in the engraving department at Marshall Fields & Company. This so happens to be the same year that the couple was presented with a dilemma that would change their lives as they know it. Marshall Fields & Company announced that they were downsizing their engraving department.

Thomas and Dorothy decided to turn this, otherwise terrible news, into a once in a lifetime opportunity. They waived farewell to being employees and took on the exciting roll of employer as they opened Artistry’s first location under the name T. R. Johnsen Company at 19 South Wells Street.

As luck would have it, they were given the opportunity to purchase some of the engraving and printing equipment Marshall Fields was offloading. Through this transaction they acquired a Pantograph Machine, a Ruling Machine, a couple Die Stamping Presses, a roll-top desk used as a plate finishing bench, and all the necessary tools to continue work as usual.

The Pantograph Machine played a very important roll in the production of engraved stationary items. This machine allowed Thomas to produce perfect copies of typographic fonts onto metal surfaces in preparation for etching and finally printing.

This method utilized a master plate containing a full alphabet of one font, a diamond point needle, and a copper or steel plate coated with emulsion. Thomas would trace the desired letterforms on the master plate in the preferred order and the diamond tipped needle would scratch the surface of the coated plate exposing the metal. Once the design was complete, an acid would be used to etch the exposed areas before the coating is cleaned off. The engraver would then look for any imperfections within the etched lines of the plate using a loop and fix them accordingly with special metal engraving tools. Upon this final inspection, the plate was then ready to be setup and run on a Die Stamping Press.

Thomas and Dorothy quickly realize that they are unable to operate to their fullest extent with just the two of them and take on three employees they worked alongside while at Marshal Fields. Richard Archer and Joe Janizak, who operate printing presses, and Al Whyte, who produces engraved plates alongside Thomas. Unbeknownst to them at the time, these three employees end up playing a detrimental roll in the survival and continued success of Artistry.

In the meantime, this small team tirelessly works to provide clients with quality printed materials and slowly begins building an impressive following which includes Marshal Fields and other prominent businesses from around the Chicago area.

Their success within the industry grants them the ability to purchase more equipment and printing presses. This eventually leads to the purchase of their first Autofeed for a 3 x 8 Modern Die Stamping Press in April of 1964. With this system they are able to increase the production of letterheads and envelopes by 5000 impressions per day.

In 1965 tragedy strikes when Thomas passes away suddenly, leaving Dorothy with the difficult task of raising a small child and running a business on her own. She decides to form a partnership with Richard, Al, and Joe in order to ensure the future success of the shop and stakes her position as President of Artistry.

Oh March 7th of 1965, Artistry Engraving and Embossing Company was incorporated. Business remained as usual for the following few years until it became time to move locations. The location that was settled upon was the second floor of an industrial building located at 210 West Van Buren Street, Chicago. This required the tedious task of closing the street for a day and having the machinery hoisted through a window with the use of a crane.