Letterpress Restoration: Purpose

Upon request, I would like to explain in more detail as to why exactly I am hoping to follow through with this restoration.

First of all, as I am doing this for class credit, this restoration so far has allowed me to learn about letter press printing as I did not have any prior knowledge. If I were to actually restore the press and gather needed parts, I could potentially extend my independent learning by using the press for its intended purpose: to print! -On a side note, doing this restoration for class credit would be at a minimum cost to the University as I am sure if the press was to be fixed by a professional, the cost of labor would be somewhat substantial.- As you can see, my personal interest in letter press printing has gotten me this far; however, my own learning is not my main purpose for wanting to complete this restoration.

As I have mentioned in a previous post, I met with Doug Younger in the Graphics Department, he pointed out a picture to me when we were walking through the GIT printing lab. This picture was from, if I remember correctly, the 70's and it looks as though the very press I am trying to restore was being used in a class in its pre-blue painted state. -My main purpose for this press to be revived is so that current and future students at Pittsburg State University will have the ability to use it once again.

Mentioning the graphics department furthers my purpose for this restoration. I found it odd that it took me to meet with a printer in KC telling me about work he is doing with a GIT professor to come to the conclusion that the GIT department actually has letter presses. I most likely would have started there with my research and asking questions if I would have known. Anyway, I find it odd that we have this piece of equipment that is unused in our departments "printmaking" course and over at the GIT department, they have many letter presses being used in their "printmaking" courses. If by chance, the two departments could collaborate their printmaking classes, this would allow students to see why printmaking is important to each field of work and help them to relate with one another. I'm sure there would be a lot more knowledge and techniques provided to students who were exposed to both departments, even if there was only one or two meeting in the other department during a semester.

Another great reason for this to be restored and to possibly unite the Art and GIT departments is the exposure students would be gaining. This exposure has relevance to contemporary printing programs at a school like Otis College of Art and Design < http://www.otis.edu/letterpress-studio >.

As you can see my interest in cleaning up this letterpress does not stop at my personal learning but extends to the current and future students of PSU. In hopes of uniting the Art and Graphics departments to put even more emphasis on the many types of printmaking that art focused schools tend to have. This opportunity could grow and provide yet another in-depth facet for students at PSU.

Letterpress Restoration: Report and Time Frame

I have included the official report that I will be presenting and discussing to my art department chairperson on Monday, November 11. This meeting will decide the fate of the rest of the restoration.

Letterpress Restoration Report

Catherine Jepson

Restoring the art departments “broken” letterpress has been a part of my printmaking independent studies course this fall semester. Through research, meeting with a few professional printmakers in Kansas City, and talking with Doug Younger in the technology department; it has come to my attention that the next step in this process will be the actual, hands-on restoration. With that being the case, funding will be needed. The point of this restoration is not just for independently learning how to restore the press but more so that this mid 1930’s press can be used again by PSU students.

The press is very basic with only a cylinder being used to roll over the type, in order to transfer the image. The press’s current state includes a lot of rust that needs to be removed. It has been recommended to try using naval jelly, wire brushes, and WD40. The cost of 2 wire brushes ($5.97 ea. = $11.94), 16oz container of naval jelly ($6.98), and 1 gallon of WD40 ($16.86) would be roughly $35.78 at Home Depot. There are not any signs of cracking or missing pieces within the bed, cylinder, or the track that the cylinder glides on, which means the press is in pretty good shape. Also, parts of the press are (very poorly) painted blue, to get it to its original state; an orange paint stripper has been suggested. A ½ gallon of Citristrip from Home Depot is ($19.97).

As for other parts needed in order to actually print, the list includes: tympan paper, ink, furniture, heavy weight oil, positive lock up bar, lead cutter, other items that are not necessary but would be helpful include a frame, quoins and quoin keys, and the proper type. Tympan paper, coupled with many more sheets of regular papers, is used as the outside layer wrapped around the cylinder to create the necessary pressure. The sheet size would roughly be 20”x28”; however, you can purchase a roll to cut down to size. Depending upon the amount needed, a roll can cost from $50 and up to over $500. As there is not a need for a large amount, buying a small roll or by sheet would be ideal. NA graphics, Briar Press, or ebay would be other sources to buy tympan.

http://ladiesofletterpress.com/forum/topics/tympan-paper-for-8x12-cp Last comment shows a large roll of 18” tympan for cheap; unsure of price

Ink would need to be thinner than what is used already in the art department’s printmaking studio; Doug Younger offered to give me a few samples to get started, as well as paper and oil. Van Son rubber based ink is what Mr. Younger and the K.C. printmakers use and suggested. http://www.vansonink.com/products/Rubber-Base-Plus.html When the time comes that ink needs to be purchased, a pound of pantone black is $18.75, colors are between $20-35.

The following links are to Briar Press where I have found a few sets of furniture for sale; all are different prices and amounts of pieces. The furniture is used to lock in the type onto the press, basically holding it into place.

http://www.briarpress.org/35606 Furniture case with Furniture, tympan paper roll, quoins and quoin keys (these parts are included in a larger lot, owner may sell pieces)

http://www.briarpress.org/35376 around 200 pieces of furniture plus the case = $125

http://www.briarpress.org/35104 72 pieces of furniture = $50

http://www.briarpress.org/35796 Furniture case with furniture, tympan paper roll, quoins, lead cutters, leading drawer = unsure of pricing

Included in some of these sales are other items that could be used such as the tympan paper, lead cutters, and quoins. The lead cutter is used to cut lead pieces which are used for the same purpose as furniture except for smaller spaces.

A positive lock up bar would be unlikely to find so I would have to make one with wood, which would be relatively cheap (about $10 or less for wood). Quoins and quoin keys are used to block in the type as well, usually coupled with a frame; all of these items are very handy but not necessary, plus slightly difficult to find. We will not need to buy type as the type we have is the right height and will suffice, plus type can be quite expense when buying a set.

Overall, the restoration will be relatively inexpensive. Rust and paint removal will cost about $55, and to get the press running, depending upon where the furniture, wood for the lock up bar, tympan paper, and lead cutter are purchased, the entire restoration would cost roughly $115-300+. Again, added on pieces that would be handy (quoins, quoin keys, ink, frame, type) but not necessary would be additional money and time spent researching to actually find the items.                      

For further information on the press restoration thus far, please visit www.catjepson.blogspot.com

Letterpress Restoration Time Frame

Catherine Jepson

With time in this semester running out, the actual restoration may need to be accomplished at another time. Gathering adequate funds, purchasing the parts, cleaning off the rust, blogging, and following through with any other tasks is too much to achieve in the remainder of my independent studies. If proper funding is available, it would be suggested that a portion of time in the future be put into the restoration. I would appreciate having the opportunity to see this restoration process through myself, unless having another student take over is suggested. As for the completion of the restoration, it would entail either a two week focus between the 2014 spring and summer semesters, a one hour credit course throughout the 2014 spring or fall semester, or any other ideas that may work. If a one hour course were to be completed to restore the press in the spring, a possibility of 2 hour credits in the fall to print on the restored press would complete a full 3 hour independent studies course.

Another tangent onto this letter press project is, hopefully, for me to pass on the information I have learned so that the press can be used in a classroom setting. That is if the art department has interest in adding this to the printmaking curriculum. If so, the cleanup of the press and taking time to figure out how to print on it would be circuital in educating myself and passing that information on. Figuring out who and when to educate on this topic would need to be considered.