Archive for the Frisket Category

No. 1 Proof Press Cylinder Undercut / Registration - Posted November 10, 2009

I have a No. 1 proof press, serial # 6327 that I picked up a while ago to print woodblock and linocuts on, plus I would love to do some small edition work, as I learn. Two questions-
In reading through some posts and books, I see the impression cylinder has an under-cut. How do I determine what the undercut is? I looked on the cylinder bearer and bed bearer, but saw nothing.
The second question pertains to registration (I have looked at the posts regarding this), but in using a frisket, secured to the bed bearer holes, won’t the frame get stopped by the ink tray? Is there another way to accomplish this, that I have missed?
Any help is greatly appreciated. My book on General Printing should be arriving soon, so maybe these and more questions will be answered.

Registration on the No. 1 - Posted August 26, 2009

My recently acquired No. 1 proof press (#3639) is an older version sans grippers.

The previous owner fashioned a hinged tympan on the bed which I believe was used for registration. He had taped on makeready with gauge pins to the underside of this tympan at one point. However, the press has not been used in about 10 years so I found his system in some disrepair.

I would appreciate any feedback on registration methods for a No. 1 and/or if this hinged tympan system sounds reasonable. Thanks!

Seeking Frisket Tower for Universal I - Posted November 1, 2007

I am interested in finding a frisket tower for my Vandercook Universal I. I think a lot of people take these things off, but I like them. Does anyone know of one that might be available for sale?

Thanks,
Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

Poco 0 with tympan and frisket - Posted October 1, 2007

poco-0-inking-form-notice-roller-bearers.jpgHere are a couple of photos of my Hacker Poco 0 with my tympan and frisket. I hand ink this press. Notice the roller bearers. This process approximates the printing techniques used on the Common Press for 350 years, and the Iron Hand Press for another 150 years. I use brown paper for both the tympan and frisket, and hold it to the steel frames with wallpaper paste. I set type on the bed, lock it into place with wooden quoins I’ve made, and then make an impression of the frisket with carbon paper. Once I know where the  impression will strike on the frisket, and use a razor knife to cut a hole in the frisket.

poco-0-frisket-open-ready-to-print.jpgThen comes paper to the tympan, ink to the form, and run an impression through and get the right inking. Then it’s one at a time until the press run is done, or I’m too tired, whichever occurs first. Please feel free to contact me if you need help with your Poco, want a hint to hand ink your Vandercook, or to kibitz.  

Neil Giroux, North Adams, MA 
ngiroux@roadrunner.com


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