Page 15 - October 2015
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mood. Gwen Harper our very own Branch on behalf of our liƩle group.
secretary had travelled from Rayleigh and was Finally the gem of the day from Allan.
in sparkling form enjoying the printerly chat
for which the Hedgehog Press is famous. A step by step demonstraƟon of how to
print a lithograph on a leƩerpress machine,
Ron and Margaret Rookes from Great and the creaƟon of a photo-litho image
Baddow, two of our hardest working using kitchen foil, margarine, Pepsi cola,
members, were as ever supporƟng our Essex and water. Amazing!
Branch. Really good to see you both again.
John GarreƩ (of woodcut fame) had travelled Basically this is how he achieved the task.
from Suffolk. Good to see you again John. "Kitchen litho" as it is known, is a rudimentary
version of the commercial process adapted
John Alexander and Julie had travelled to use domesƟc materials which are freely
all the way from Southchurch and it was available. Aluminium cooking foil, maƩ side
wonderful to see John fully returned to his up, is used in place of the metal plate.
old self, following two recent spells in hospital. The image to be printed was drawn onto
Finally our old friend Mike Perry had driven the block in reverse with a felt-Ɵp marker.
from Ongar to be with us and it was a delight The exposed areas of the "plate" were then
to chat about leƩerpress and press restoraƟon treated with phosphoric acid to make them
with him. more recepƟve to water. (Dilute phosphoric
acid is available almost everywhere in the
Prior to Alan's lecture and demonstraƟon large boƩles of Pepsi-Cola, or Pepsi-Max.)
on prinƟng breakthroughs, we were called The plate is then carefully wiped with a damp
to order by our beloved leader, Len Friend sponge to ensure the bare metal is wet before
to start our Essex Branch meeƟng. This gently rolling with ordinary oil-based ink.
was done with a device he had printed and This does not sƟck to the wet areas, only to
manufactured himself. Perhaps you may the image. The block is placed in the press
remember the cardboard Bang! NovelƟes and printed immediately – it must not be
given away free with the Beezer and Topper. allowed to dry out. To make the plate useable
The atomic bang aƩracted our aƩenƟon and it in the Adana Alan had wrapped it round a
was announced that the Essex Branch would block of plate- mounƟng base, with a piece of
be holding a two day prinƟng aƩracƟon at the sheet metal on the bed to bring it up to type
Barleylands Country Show. This September on height. The second experiment with photo-
12th & 13th. No less than seven leƩerpress lithography used a photocopy image. The
machines in acƟon including the massive toner was transferred to the block by applying
Press Genepy, Europe's largest wooden cellulose paint thinners to the rear of the
framed press. Lots of exciƟng events planned, photocopy thus transferring the image onto
including a group visit to The Hell Box Foundry the block.
in Kent, in October to visit Ed Denovan and
have the chance to purchase freshly cast type, I went home with my head buzzing with
and see the impressive super-caster in acƟon. prinƟng ideas, and laden down with type
Great days ahead. given away free by Alan. He is a generous man
with his ideas, and I think it safe to say I have
Our hosts at Adanaland, John and Julie learned more about Adana prinƟng dodges
Brignull had pulled out all the stops for our and wrinkles than from any other source.
visit, including copious cups of tea, a splendid Three cheers for the giŌed and ingenious
lunch on the lawn and aŌernoon tea and Mr. Brignull. Another triumph!
cakes to follow. They had both worked hard
for our enjoyment, so thank you to you both Chris Brinson (10631)