The historic plate, stamp, and printmaking trade that survives in the heart of Barcelona

You've most likely been to a restaurant, ordered a hamburger, and were surprised to find the bun personalized with a stamp from the establishment. Or maybe you've seen it on Instagram or TikTok. Well, it's quite likely that the establishment acquired the press to do so at Grabador Inglés, the historic plaque, rubber stamp, and all kinds of printing shop that left its traditional location on Ronda Universidad 2 two years ago and moved nearby, to Gran Via 600. The recent relocation, due to a not-uncommon situation in Barcelona—the entire building was acquired by a hotel group—was a change, but fortunately, the business's trajectory is solid, so are the clientele, and the future seems secure. Businesses still need advertising elements and personalized signs, façade and door plaques. And individuals, as much as it may seem like an antique, still have mailboxes at the entrance of our homes. And each one needs its corresponding plaque. Unless you're happy with just sticking a piece of paper written on in a pen, of course.

I spoke with Rafael Rodés Rosés and Rafael Rodés Legler, father and son, the second and third generations of the business. The first, Rafael Rodés Areñas, was its founder in 1932. A sign and rubber stamp shop has been the essential leitmotif ever since, with corresponding technical and technological advances leading up to the present day. The founder had previously worked in an enamel shop—the signs used to be enameled, and today they are precious collector's items—and decided to start his own business. Rafael Sr. fondly remembers that they opened at the same time as the historic German brewery Heidelberg, where they were always neighbors and good friends. "If we run out of bread, go to Bar Toledo, they'll let us," was often heard. And why is this? Because in the early years, the business was jointly owned by the English Engraver and Bar Toledo, an interesting business venture that didn't quite work out and only lasted a few years. From then on, the entire business belonged to the Engraver.

"We once had up to twenty-three workers," Rafael recalls. Between ten and fifteen of the workers who have worked at the company started as apprentices and eventually retired. Today there are five of them and they maintain a sustainable work pace, but he has no hesitation in his assessment: "Sustaining to this day is a small miracle, especially considering the countless revolutions that have taken place in the field of graphic design and printing." Before, everything was handmade; rubber stamps were made from lead letters that had to be put together one by one. It used to be common for companies and industries to personalize all their machinery with plates they ordered from the Rodés family. "Today, industries buy the vast majority of the machinery they need abroad; this means that they no longer order any kind of personalized details from us," Rafael Jr. reasons.

Do you have any commissions you remember? Oh, there are many! But, for example, many years ago they were in charge of making the 120,000 consecutively numbered plaques to be installed in the seats of Camp Nou. The same at Espanyol's old Sarrià stadium. Or that Galician doctor who commissioned a plaque to engrave his name on all his prescriptions for patients. All kinds of clients: professional offices, companies, businesses, individuals. What used to be an enamel sign can now be metal—they've also been specialists since the beginning—or methacrylate. Or license plates! Many need to replace them because they've been damaged or even stolen. Or the directories of names and companies that hang on the entrances of many buildings. They can also commission them. They've had their own website and online store for years to facilitate their work and cover as much territory as possible.

"Please no smoking," "Alarm!", "No parking," "Public telephone," "Fire extinguisher," "Emergency exit." Countless examples of eternally necessary signs. All to the English Recorder!