Here 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.
Then 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. Â
Neil Giroux, North Adams, MAÂ
ngiroux@roadrunner.com
