Construction of the Uncommon Press

Five RIT students worked with various carpenters, blacksmiths, and engineers to construct the Uncommon Press. The design and construction team is pictured here, from left: Daniel Krull, Educational and Social Media Specialist; Seth Gottlieb, Research Lead; Randall Paulhamus, Lead Engineer; Veronica Hebbard, Project Lead; Stephen Spector, Carpenter; Ferris Nicolais, Lead Design; and Matthew Schofield, Blacksmith.

RIT students visited 18th century common presses for research purposes during the 2016 academic year.

Throughout 2016, this team of students visited various historic 18th century wooden presses throughout the Northeastern United States and Canada. These visits were necessary to gather documentary evidence about materials, measurements, and construction methods on which to base their reconstruction.

The Louis C. Roy Press at the Mackenzie Printery & Newspaper Museum in Queenston, ON, Canada was particularly valuable to the students and many of the Uncommon Press’s measurements were based on it.

Choosing oak hardwood for the press New England Naval Timbers, in Cornwall, CT.

Sourcing historically accurate materials, and finding craftsmen skilled in authentic methods, proved to be challenging. Common presses were made from oak and mahogany, which was easy to find in the 21st century. However, modern production methods favor smaller cuts of wood than would have been used in the late 18th century. The team was finally able to purchase a large plank of white oak from New England Naval Timbers, in Cornwall, CT. Stephen F. Spector did the woodworking.

Irion Lumber, in Wellsboro, PA, provided the mahogany for the Uncommon Press's platen.

This provides a glimpse into one of the buildings full of wood at Irion Lumber, in Wellsboro, PA. The students purchased a vintage mahogny board here, which eventually became the Uncommon Press's platen.

Matt Schofield, lead blacksmith at Genesee Country Village and Museum.

Eventually, the students partnered with the Genesee Country Village and Museum in Mumford, NY. The blacksmiths there made many of the parts using hand-craftsmanship. Matt Schofield, lead blacksmith at Genesee Country Village and Museum, used period-accurate methods to fabricate the wrought-iron hose band.

Wrought iron pieces made by blacksmith, Matt Schofield.

Blacksmith Matt Schofield manufactured a number of parts for the Uncommon Press. These wrought iron pieces were coated in a mixture of inseed oil, turpentine, and beeswax and were blackened to give a vintage, handmade finish. The team made many parts using antiquated methods, but because of time and other constraints some had to be constructed with modern equipment.