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.
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