Project Summary | Project Information |
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Background The wooden common press of the mid-15th to late 18th centuries sparked a revolution in communication and culture. Prior to the printing press, communication was limited to stories passed down through generations and hand-written books written by few educated monks. The wooden common press was first developed in Europe by printing pioneers such as Johannes Gutenberg and rapidly spread throughout the west eventually coming to America [1]. The design of printing presses remained largely unchanged and the primary means of printing during this period until iron hand presses superseded them. These wooden common presses work in conjunction with moveable type to produce printed works on paper, and can deliver consistent, mass-producible results. This new production method allowed for advancements in science, technology, and the arts. The lasting impression of the common wooden press will forever be one of the most influential developments in the development and growth of today’s world. Problem Statement The Cary Graphic Arts collection maintains a collection on the history of printing, including a full pressroom with 18 historic presses. Few original wooden common presses still exist; in order to better present the history of printing, the Cary Collection is seeking to have a reconstruction of a wooden press made.The goals of this project are to design a wooden press based upon historical research, to build a press in accordance with this design, and to publish a paper documenting the design and construction processes. The final press must be consistent with original common presses and maintain historical accuracy. This press will function as an original press and be used for instruction at the Cary Collection. |
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Team Members
Member | Role | Major | Contact |
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Veronica Hebbard | Project Lead | Industrial and Systems Engineer | vah4961@rit.edu |
Ferris Nicolais | Lead Design | Mechanical Engineer | fwn7327@rit.edu |
Seth Gottlieb | Research Lead | Mechanical Engineer | sjg6582@rit.edu |
Randall Paulhamus | Lead Engineer | Mechanical Engineer | rsp5861@rit.edu |
Daniel Krull | Educational and Social Media Specialist | Museum Studies | dk5617@rit.edu |
Project Journey
MSD 1
Below is a list of highlighted accomplishments per each phase of the project. For more indepth information please visit the links in "Table of Contents" located below.
Phase 1:
Began understanding and defining the project goals.
Started researching the history of printing presses.
Met frequently with Dr. Steven Galbraith to learn about
printing history.
Phase 2:
Contacted the Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum,
then visited to begin collecting measurements and data on
printing presses.
Featured in Niagara Falls Review.
Began recognizing the design changes in common presses
over time and in geographical places.
Phase 3:
Chose to design a press typical of the period 1770-1790
in England.
Found additional team member Daniel Krull, a Museum
Studies Major.
Made an initial bill of materials for an English common
press.
Phase 4:
Traveled to New England during Spring Break and visited
surviving presses from the 18th century at 4 locations in
4 states.
Began searching for suppliers of white oak timbers.
Made significant progress on models and drawings.
Phase 5:
Traveled to Cornwall, CT and purchased white oak from New
England Naval Timbers.
Made arrangements with Genesee Country Village and Museum
to contract with their blacksmiths.
Continued working on drawings.
MSD 2
Phase 1:
Reconnect with craftsmen to review progress an establish
future expectations of work.
Re-vist project plan to ensure project completion at the
end of the semester.
Continued review of drawings for total completion as well
as historical accuracy.
Phase 2:
Update risk assessment and mitigation actions.
Trip to purchase and deliver mahogany to craftman.
Collected and reviewed first batch of blacksmith
parts.
Getting RIT machine shop specialist involved in the
production of a spindle.
First Material ordered from McMaster-Carr for various
machine shop parts.
Team created presentation for the 2016 APHA
Conference.
Prototype of bar and round handle was created.
Phase 3:
Veronica and Seth travel to the Huntington Library
located in Pasadena, C.A to present at the 2016 APHA
Conference.
Issues arise with the drying of the wood.
Team works with craftsman to mitigate obtaining more wood
for construction.
Collected second batch of blacksmith parts.
Team gets to work with blacksmith to hammer out crescent
arm!
Team receives beech wood for production of rounce and bar
handle.
Phase 4:
The team took a trip to Harrisburg for a full day pf
sanding, scraping, drawboring, and finishing of the
press.
67% of the blacksmithed parts are completed.
100% of the wood parts are finished with only 54% tested
assembly.
Leather girths were ordered and received.
Pre-Assembled wood parts were picked up and delivered to
RIT.
Stone was received.
Phase 5:
The team as well as recruited volunteers, machinists, and
engineers worked to fabricate all parts.
Blacksmithed parts completed. Rework completed.
sanding and oiling of wooden parts are completed.
Sleepless nights inside the Machine Shop and Cary
collection getting ready for final assembly.
Press was assembled in the Cary in less than a day.
Cary Collection unveiling of the press to the public.
Poster seminar.
Final documentation including tech paper completed.
Table of Contents
MSD I & II | MSD I | MSD II |
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Integrated System Build & Test |
Acknowledgements
- Melbert B. Cary Jr. Graphic Arts Collection
- RIT Library
- Ron Schroder, Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum
- Stephen Sword
- Karel van der Waarde
- Susan Riggs, Earl Gregg Swem Library at College of William & Mary
- Jackie Calder, Vermont Historical Society
- Barbara Rimkunas, Exeter Historical Society
- Gary Gregory, Printing Office of Edes & Gill
- Bridget Sullivan and Jennifer Robinson, Newport Historical Society
- Hugh Macfarlane
- Paul Moxon, American Printing History Association
- Dr. Mark Sanders, Emeritus, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Matthew Schofield, Genesee Country Village & Museum
- Stephen Spector, S. F. Spector Inc.
- RIT Mechanical Engineering Machine Shop
- Audrey Glasgow, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
- Kaylie McDonald, student volunteer
- David Sadowski, student volunteer
- Ashley Kosak, student volunteer
- Mark Saunders, student volunteer
- Lydia Yeckley, student volunteer
- Bailey Reid, student volunteer
- Ryan Hoyt, student volunteer
- James Gandek, student volunteer
- Jordan Melita, student volunteer
- Kevin Schwenk, student volunteer
- Kate Weidmann, student volunteer
- Eric Gioe, student volunteer
- Ezra Weinstein, student volunteer
- Ben Palmer, student volunteer
- Leslie Miller, student volunteer