Restoration of the Twiggs Letterpress

The Restoration was conducted in Evanston, Illinois last April. Space was made available at the Evanston Township High School where a temporary workshop with equipment from the Red Onion Press was set up. The project is on view for students at the High School to learn more about the history and process of letterpress printing, restoration work and the mission of the Shorefront Legacy Center.

Shorefront Legacy Center

Shorefront Legacy Center, Evanston Ill.

William Twiggs was a prominent member of the North Shore African American Community. A city park in Evanston is named after him and the location of his shop has been declared an African American historic site. He was a printer, barber and community leader, who passed away at the age of 95 in 1960.

William Twiggs and Family - c1900

William Twiggs at work

Last Project of 2023!

Restoring a C & P Pilot Press

A Pilot Press is a very sturdy and well-designed tabletop press. We were contacted by the owner who recently moved to the area and had acquired the press recently and wanted it cleaned, painted and checked over. The only thing missing was the grippers and actuator which we fabricated for her.

Beowulf Book limited edition completed.

On to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, next book in the series

Presentation of a copy of the Handprinted and bond copy of Beowulf accepted by Director Gio Sipp on behalf of the Kennesaw State University College of Art and Design at the Student Art fair in December

Rick Paller, reviewing pages from Beowulf during production in the Letterpress area of the KSU Printmaking Studio

Red Onion Press launches pre-publication offer with Mable House Display

The Beowulf exhibit will be on display at the Mable House Art Center in Mableton. In the foreground is the Red Onion mobile express which will be used to demonstrate letterpress printing on Saturday, April 15 during the Taste of Mableton being held in the park surrounding the Art Center.

The Red Onion Press presents a limited first edition of original illustrations by Bronislaw Bak of the epic medieval poem Beowulf accompanied by a 1910 translation from the original Old English by Frances B. Grummere. Printed from the original hand carved blocks which were lost for 50 years that recently came to light; the wood blocks were used to print a photo ready image for mid-1960’s elementary classroom slide film commissioned by Encyclopedia Britannica. The slide film is no longer available as are the now rare antique viewers. This First Edition of 50 pages contain both the images and the full translation in a tribute to the original work that will now be preserved as well as an art project that provides a great teaching experience to all involved. Each book in the edition will be made available for purchase after publication for $500 each. Starting with this exhibit, a pre-publication 25% discount will be offered to those who wish to purchase. Contact the Red Onion Press for more information at www.redonionpress.org

The colored images shown are replicated from the original hand printed and painted by the artist, Bronislaw Bak. The pages in the edition are printed directly from the blocks in black ink.

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

All Types and Sizes

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All Types and Sizes 〰️

Small town in Oklahoma is looking for an ink disk for a 19th century platen press

Corn Oklahoma’s Lightening Jobber Press standing inside a barn

Corn Oklahoma’s Lightening Jobber Press standing inside a barn

This Fall, we were contacted by the Mayor of Corn, Oklahoma, a small town with a population of about 500. Corn has an interesting history which the town is proud to celebrate. The town was officially founded in 1903, settled by German-Russian Mennonite families. Today it is a typical midwestern farming community located some 84 miles west of Oklahoma City. Recently one of the townsfolk donated a largely intact late 1800’s Lightning Jobber platen press. Two years ago we restored a Lightening Jobber that had been donated to the Red Onion, and was purchased by a letterpress printer in this area. The town intends to clean up their press and display it along with other artifacts from their history.
From the size we’ve determined that it is a 10 x 15 Model Jobber press. At one time there were quite a few of these presses around, but now they are rare. If you have a 15 inch dia ink disk with a 1 3/4 in stud or know of one that can be purchased please email us at the Red Onion Press. We love to be able to help bring these old treasures back to life.

KSU's Columbia Press nearly complete

The finishing tasks for the restoration of the 1880 vintage Columbian Press are nearly complete. With a new paint job and repairs scheduled for this week, the press will soon be ready to be displayed.

New overlay paint drying

,Ayanna Daughtry, REd Onion Press, checks her overlay paint

Each part had to be meticulously cleaned, wire brushed, painted and assembled. This design was one of the earliest iron printing presses of the 19th Century. The distinct ornate symbols frequently painted with gold leaf and colors festooned heavy iron parts throughout the castings. The Columbian was invented in Philadelphia in 1830, but manufactured in Europe throughout the century by various companies. Unlike other iron presses of the time which used spring force, the counterbalances served to raise the ram to the top of it’s stroke, allowing the press bed clearance. Final assembly will include adding the tympan and frisket, draw arm, outboard stanchion and counterbalance beam. Once those are in place we’ll be able to make final adjustments and pull a first impression. Our goal is to be finished by the end of the month.

More progress on the KSU Press Restoration Project

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The Columbian Press is assembled, cleaned and has been coated with a black undercoat. It is ready for the ornate trim, typically applied to these early 19th century cast iron presses.

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We have also reassembled the Reliance Hand Press which is ready to be painted as well. The Reliance for the last two years has been operating at the Red Onion Press on loan in Downtown Kennesaw. Now in the expanded printmaking area, the press has it’s place of honor in the letterpress section of the new building.



KSU Press Restoration project

The ornate 400 lb. Columbian press, built in England goes back to the 1830’s

Over the last two years, Red Onion Press has been tapped to do restoration and maintenance work on a collection of antique letterpress printing equipment that had been donated over the years to Kennesaw State University.

Shown here is the Columbian Press, on display at the Museum of Printing, north of Boston, nearly identical to the version at KSU. Starting with the Columbian press restoration, the project will include two other large floor model presses and roughly 50 tabletop letterpress of all types. Most of the work will take place on campus in a dedicated area in the large expanded printmaking department of the following months.