Bill Ritchie Work in Virginia
in the
The Gene Laughter Estate
Active and passive sides of Galleon Halfwood Press No. 8.
Galleon Halfwood Press No. 8
Specifications: Made in 2011. Galleon Halfwood Press. Serial No. 90008. Specifications: 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 Brazilian ipe, American black walnut with wenge interlayering and trimmed with ipe. The pressure screws are linked and synchronized. The press included three etching felts, user's manual and DVD plus a PressGhost memory and USB extension cable for connecting to a computer.
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"Myrthle Beach Cruiser - '48 Ford" Bromoil print by Gene Laughter
Gene Laughter has more examples on the Web.
Ritchie's comment: Gene contacted me from Glen Allen, near Richmond, Virginia after he saw a Mini Halfwood on Etsy. After a few exchanges he decided on the Galleon. When he ordered the press he quipped, "Most people my age won't buy green bananas. Here I am buying a new etching press!" I was sad to hear the news a couple years ago he was fighting a threat to his health and then, in 2017, someone contacted me to tell he had died, and the disposition of the press is unknown. He was an expert on the little known art of bromoil printmaking, which uses a press similar to an etching press.
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