Bill Ritchie art and design work in Virginia
in the
Josef Beery Collection
Passive side and active side of Galleon Halfwood Press No. 13
Galleon Halfwood Press No. 13
Specifications: 2013. Galleon Halfwood Press. Serial No. 90013. Roller diameter 2 1/4" x 9" long, top and bottom. Bed is 5/16" polycarbonate, 9" x 26". The overall length is 27"; overall width is 13 3/4"; overall height is 15". Weight is 50 lbs.; Drive wheel is 12" diameter stainless steel. The bed is rack-driven, approximating a 3:1 mechanical advantage. Woods used are American black walnut with wenge interlayering. The pressure screws are linked and synchronized. The press included three etching felts, user's manual and plus PressGhost memory and USB extension cable for connecting to a computer or tablet device with an adaptor (device not provided).
Ritchie's comment: Josef sent an email from Amsterdam when he was traveling and he was at the Rembrandtshuis - the art museum built in the old master's former mansion (which I had included in my novel, "Rembrandt's Ghost in the New Machine.") When Josef returned to the US, we enjoyed a long chat via Skype. Josef is an artist, graphic designer and teacher in Charlottesville who specializes in the design of books and publications for educational institutions, museums, historic sites, and literary publishers. Besides his production work, he holds workshops in book arts and printing. In 2016 he designed desktop letterpress-type press, the BookBeetle you can see here. He sent me a snapshot of himself using the replica 17th C. wooden roller press similar to that which Rembrandt probably owned for printing his etchings. Josef was visiting the University of Virginia Rare Book School in Charlottesville.
Josef referred to his Galleon Halfwood Press press on his website: "Bill Ritchie in Seattle has recently invented a lightweight tabletop intaglio press — the Halfwood Press. It is a very precise and uniquely beautiful machine built of hardwood and steel. it creates professional quality prints and most wonderfully can be transported easily to the classroom. Using this press, I can teach classes anywhere students are interested." His website is http://www.josefbeery.com/wordpress/intaglio-printmaking/ For illustration accompanying his comment, see this webpage.
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