2 October 2019 - Midwest and Great Norther Printers' Fair

I just attended the Midwest and Great Northern Printers'  Fair. It has been on my radar for some time, and I finally made it to this event.  All I can say is FABULOUS!  

The Fair is held at the Midwest Old Settlers & Threshers Association. The Association hosts an annual Threshers Reunion for 5 days every September that ends on Labor Day. I have got to get back to see this! The Reunion started in 1950 with 15 steam engines and 8 separators and an estimated 10,000 people attending.  Visitors now number up to 40,000. The event has grown way past the threshing, and has steam locomotives, tractor shows and so much more. The biggest draw in my opinion is that during the reunion every piece of equipment works. They have over 1,000 volunteers firing up the steam engines and running equipment. Wow!  I am an extreme fan of old carousels and was thrilled to find that they even have one run by steam.  Complete with hand carved horses. Really want to see this!  The North Village (blacksmith shop, wheelwright, post office, bank, etc.) is only open during the Threshers Reunion. 

The Heritage Museum is housed in two buildings: each 100 x 400 feet long. Train tracks run down the middle of these buildings so they can store equipment in them. The Printers' Hall is a small part of one of these massive buildings.  All the presses and equipment work. Several people showed up, not to take workshops, but just so they could use the presses.  

Here's a quick tour of the Hall.  This first press is a Miehle built in 1907. It was used at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving in Wash. DC to print bonds until 1961 when it was sold to a newspaper in Yellow Springs, Ohio where it was used for another 30 years. In 2010 the last owner donated it to Printers' Hall where it was restored to working order.  It is huge! It can print a sheet of paper up to 55" wide and 38" long. Oh, and it weighs 30,000 pounds. Two people stand on platforms on either side of the press. It is currently set up to print four newspaper pages at the same time. 

Looking into the front end of the Miehle:

Checking the output on the backside. 

Here is an old lining machine.

And a look down a row of presses. 

This woman, whose name I cannot for the life of me remember, Lynne? took the poster class. She is using a Reliance iron handpress for printing. So many options!

As of today, it is already on my calendar for next year. This event was a lot of fun, with many people to hit up for any kind of information you might want.  You get hands-on experience plus expert advice from so many other attendees. Can't beat that!

Mel, from Calico Press was demonstrating an innovative overprinting technique. She had a pastry roller covered with ink roller material and used it to overprint inked wood type. Here is the process and final result. 

There was a class on reductive linocuts and another on making wood type. So much to do and learn. Even more of a draw for me was meeting in person so many people that I have talked with via phone or email. The Saturday swap meet and sale was also a big part of it, and I admit, I came home with some wonderful goodies. I found some great cuts (lots of birds and chickens) that will show up in future printing projects as well as some lovely borders.