Common Press Project
Help us build a Full-Scale Replica Common Press!
The Cincinnati Type & Print Museum is undertaking the ambitious project of building a fully functional replica of an 18th century “Common” Press to pay homage to William Maxwell, the first printer in Cincinnati.
Who is William Maxwell?
Maxwell was originally from either New York or New Jersey, and previously tried setting up a print shop in Lexington, Kentucky, without much success.
Maxwell moved to Cincinnati in 1793, and began printing a newspaper called The Centinel of the North-Western Territory that fall. (The first issue can be seen to the right.) He also worked closely with the government of the territory, and printed the book Laws of the territory of the United States north-west of the Ohio in 1796.
Maxwell sold his printing business around 1796 to focus on his political career. In 1803, he became a Representative to the First General Assembly of the newly formed State of Ohio.
While we will never know exactly what Maxwell’s printing press looked like, it was likely similar to those imported from England at the time. Our project used photos of surviving English presses, as well as the 1978 schematics of the Smithsonian's "Franklin Press," as references to create our own design.
Project Summary
The goal of this project is to use traditional materials, coupled with modern engineering and manufacturing techniques, to produce a press that is as close as possible to the one used by Maxwell.
It is our hope that this press will become a centerpiece for the Cincinnati Type & Print Museum, and be used to tell the story of Cincinnati’s printing history for generations to come!
Donate to the Project
We cannot do this without you! Our goal is to raise $35,000 to make this project a reality.
Anyone who contributes to the project (no matter the amount) will be listed below, and receive updates as we go along. Your name will also be listed on a plaque on the press itself!
Please make checks payable to the Cincinnati Type & Print Museum or click the donation button below.
Mail checks to: Cincinnati Type & Print Museum c/o Gary Walton 7151 Daleview Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45247
If you donate online, please email us to have your name included on our list of project supporters.
Thank you to our donors!
Jason Burgher
Sidney & Laura Juliani
Greg Gajus
Leslie Demoret
Adam & Tara Walton
Andrew Schall
Robert Brandsetter
Brenda Bencsik
James & Kelly Knapmeyer
Kristina Arwood
David Laurash
Bryan Hamilton
Meet our Project Team
Gary Walton, CT&PM Founder
Marshall Ivey, Project Lead
Clay Babcock, CAD Engineer