THE BOY PRINTER,
Second Printing Completed

By Dr. Leland Whitson, Trustee & Docent Director

While giving tours, I am frequently asked, “You’re a doctor, and how did you end up in printing?” I explain that I was a boy printer; discuss the love I have for letterpress printing; explaining how relaxing I find setting type in my own letterpress shop; then go on to say I consider this (printing) my avocation. “During the week I am a busy M.D. Every Saturday, I spend here at the Museum being a Docent. I particularly enjoy working on the antique equipment and assisting with the tours. I am honored to be a Trustee and the Docent Director.”

A couple of years ago, I wrote a little four page booklet titled, The Boy Printer, in which I tell my own printing history from childhood to present day. That first printing was Linotype set by Luis Garcia, our Linotype Operator Docent. It was printed on a Heidelberg Windmill press with the help of Rich Tautenhahn, pressman and letterpress instructor.

I have been working on printing a book my uncle wrote and decided to do a second printing of The Boy Printer as a trial run on the Miehle Vertical press which will also

be used to print the book. Last Saturday, August 23, 2008, with the help of another volunteer pressman, Gary Remson and Noah Barbour, we completed this project producing 200 copies of The Boy Printer. (See photo)

The Museum’s Miehle Vertical press was built in 1922 and bears the serial number 122. As it turns out, Gary owns a big brother to this model. His knowledge and experience of this press has “saved the day” on many occasions. Curator/Director, Mark Barbour suggested and assisted with modifying the design of the title page. This included re-setting the title on the Ludlow. Mark also suggested some changes to the layout design of this page which provide a distinct improvement over the prior edition. The second printing also provided the opportunity to make a couple of typo corrections to the form.

As with any project here at the Museum, I end up learning a lot about different phases of printing technology, of which I am most grateful. I doubt there is another doctor in town that can hand-set type, operate a Linotype, a Ludlow, a Windmill and a Miehle Vertical!

We plan to start printing my uncle’s 256 page book, The Surgeon Factory, next Saturday.

Noah Barbour, Dr. Leland Whitson and Gary Remson at the

1922 Miehle Veritcal ready to print.

Locked-up and ready to go.

The Cover is printed!