Our Acorn Press

About Our Press

Recently, better information about the history of our press became available.

Bob Oldham of the North American Hand Press Database provided the following information:

Your press is definitely an Adams. However, without the brass ID plaque which would have been attached on the center of the head and would have included both the maker's name and address and a serial number, it is more difficult to date the press. The Adams brothers (Isaac and Seth Adams of Boston) made hand presses in this style from about 1833 to 1859 when they sold their business to R. Hoe & Co.

The Old Story

All of our work is done on our 150 year old Acorn Press. This press was made at the Hoe Manufacturing Company of New York. The Acorn press was patented in 1822 as the Smith Hand Press, and was the best that technology could offer. Eino Natti acquired this press in about 1950 and used it to print his linoleum blocks and for printing demonstrations at the Folly Cove Designers barn until they disbanded in 1969. When Eino saw Sarah Elizabeth's shop he offered to sell her the Acorn press to replace the Washington press she was using. She was delighted to get this superior Acorn press. We use it at the Sarah Elizabeth shop to produce all our beautiful blockprints. Come to our shop to see the action of the Acorn press.