Private Presses - Frayed Frisket

The Press

Frayed Frisket Press

Proprietor

John Holmes

Location

Edinburgh about 1964
Moved to New Zealand 1967
Chatham Islands 1969
Relocated to Edinburgh in 1970
Moved to Tanzania from 1971 to 1974
Press re-established in Lincoln, (near Christchurch) 1975
Moved to Dunedin October 1999 where it is currently operating from St Leonards.

History

The Frayed Frisket Press was established in Edinburgh about 1964 using an Adana HS2 and Times, Gill Sans and Bembo types. It moved to New Zealand during 1967 and was taken to the Chatham Islands in 1969, relocating to Edinburgh in 1970 where an Adana 85 was added in 1970. The Press moved again, this time to Tanzania, where it operated from 1971 to 1974 after which it returned to New Zealand.

A Cropper Treadle was acquired in 1975 and the Press re-established in Lincoln, Canterbury. A Vandercook No 4 was acquired about 1990 and a Korrex Stuttgart press bought on the closure of Express Type in 1994. The Press continued to be operated from Lincoln until October 1999 when it moved to Dunedin.

The Frayed Frisket Press currently operates from St Leonards, Dunedin.

Equipment

Started with an Adana HS2, adding an Adana 85 in 1970. A Cropper Treadle was acquired in 1975, a Vandercook No 4 in 1990, and a Korrex Stuttgart press was bought on the closure of Express Type in Christchurch in 1994.

Upon relocation to Dunedin the Vandercook found a new home in the Otakou Press Room on the 1st floor of the Library at the University of Otago.

Main typefaces in current use are Bembo, Caslon and Garamond plus a selection of display faces and printers flowers.

Publications

Publications have been mainly ephemera and booklets (8 to 20 pages). Examples of the work of the Press can be found in Vinculum, an biannual printing specimen publication of the Association of Handcraft Printers.