Printing Presses
To see these printing presses in action, visit the Prussian Green Studio’s Instagram here.
L’automne - Mitchell press works Printing Press
This bespoke quality handmade printmaking press was custom made in Montréal via Chicago by Mitch from Mitchell Press Works. It features T-handles and a ergonomic painted Captain’s wheel and is our newest addition to the Studio. This heavyweight piece of printmaking equipment is used to print our larger prints and/or larger editions and it’s notched ruler on the inside of the press ensures the lino block’s lines are recreated in fine detail.
Steel bed size is 15” x 30”.
Captain’s wheel is 16”.
To see how Mitchell Press Works presses are built, visit their Instagram.
To learn more about this press, visit Mitch Press Works’ website here.
JM-25 Polymetaal Intaglio etching Press
After attending a printmaking course one summer, we purchased one of these presses for the Studio from a Toronto-based printmaker who affectionatly calls this type of press a Sweet Baby Jane. Many of the Studio’s first linocuts where printed on this press.
This Dutch-built intaglio press, featuring a star wheel, is small and light enough (at 26.5 pounds or 12 kg) to move around the studio (or elsewhere by unscrewing the spokes for easy transport).
The original laminated paper resin bed measures 10 x 18" , but we switched it out later for a 10 x 24” MDF press bed to be able to print longer artwork.
To learn more about these portable presses, visit the North American reseller’s website here or Polymetaal’s website here.
Antique BookBinding press
This cast-iron press has always been a part of the studio… It was found by chance in a Montréal brocante and purchased by my father ages ago. It has become a family-favourite, and a beloved piece of studio equipment.
Though the original function of this press is for bookbinding, at the Studio, we use it to press smaller sized lino blocks, or blocks that are a bit too big to print nicely with our other presses. To use this press to print our lino blocks, we slowly turn the weighted T bar, which lowers the pressing screw and plate with uniform pressure onto the various layers of boards and blankets that protect the paper and lino block during the printmaking process.
Daylight opening is 3 1/2”.
Platen size is 10” x 15”.
Origin unknown.