PRINTMAKING PRESSES

A little known fact is that, while Graphic Chemical doesn't handle presses anymore, our sister company, Printmakers Machine Company does.

Printmakers, in the form of my partner and I, bought the press line from Graphic back in 1976, and for over 30 years have continued to sell top quality presses at affordable prices.

The cornerstone of our press line is the Sturges presses named for Mr. Lee Sturges, a local businessman and printmaker active in the Chicago Society of Printmakers back in the period before the 1940's. In fact his original press goes back to 1916, making the Sturges line the oldest press line in the United States. The CP-5 (pictured above) is the workhorse of the line being used in universities and workshops around the world. The CP-4 is a bit smaller at 18 x 48" but just as durable as it's big brother.

Litho presses specifically for printmakers made their appearance in the 1950's, and in the 1960's, Ted Dickerson introduced the combination press that bore his name until his death. A unique press that allows you to switch easily from Etching to Stone Litho in less than three minutes. Currently, the Printmakers Combination press is still one of our better sellers.

When Conrad Machine started making their own press line, after their move to Whitehall, MI, we were among the first customers for their line, too. Conrad has been the primary manufacturer for the Sturges line since the late '50's or early '60's, so it made sense to add the additional presses offered by them.

The current line was fleshed out about 10 years ago following a chance conversation with one of our dealers in Belgium led to a meeting with our friends at Polymetaal in Holland. Our trip to visit Polymetaal two days later led to our taking on their line of products in 1998. In addition to numerous etching, litho and relief presses, they offer Rosin Dust Boxes, Trays and Rim Exhaust Tray systems. We have had a lot of interest in these presses, in part because they fit into size ranges not available here, and in part, that despite the Dollar's weakness aganst the Euro, they're still pretty affordable.