The Surgeon Factory Book Production Begins
Dr. Leland Whitson, Trustee & Docent Director

Pictured here are my instructor Gary Marc Remson and me holding the first pages of my book project, The Surgeon Factory, on Saturday, 9-27-08. After a number of years of setting the 256 page book on the Linotype, we are finally ready to start the actual printing on our 1922 vintage Miehle V-36 press. After assembling the pages in the chase and plainning the type form (“make ready”), the chase with the type form was placed into the press, the ink fountain adjustments were fine tuned; we then printed 250 sheets of paper “two-up” (each sheet containing two pages). Gary is a retired master printer and a wonderful, kind, patient instructor who studied under Dr. Richard J. Hoffman.

Gary has come down every Saturday the past few weeks to clean, lubricate and prep the Miehle V-36 for printing and to give me “private” printing lessons.  He has been very patient with me and has gone over every step of the printing process, including the use of an ink fountain.  Gary is so knowledgeable he has taught me tricks of the trade not found in the machine’s operating instructions.

 I find it so rewarding to be able to learn how to use this press.  I doubt there is another doctor in the area who can operate a Linotype, run a Heidelberg Windmill press and a Miehle V-36 vertical press.

Thanks so much Gary!