Intro to the Victoria Parallel Platen Press

This is a tour of one of the printing presses that we use at First Bite Press. The Victoria Parallel Platen Press was used to print Babylon Songs, our latest limited edition book.

The press was made by Rockstroh-Werke AG of Heidenau, Germany. It is the “Model B” of the several models that were produced in Germany. Other models of this press were later produced in the U.K.

We are not sure how this Press came over to the States, but it ended up in San Francisco and was in use by the Grabhorns in the early to mid-1900s. We were informed by master printer, Wesley Tanner, that this was the press that Jane Grabhorn used for her own books when the Grabhorn brothers were not using it for their fine press publications. Jane Grabhorn had two imprints: The Colt Press and Jumbo Press. Sherwood Grover printed on the Vic while he worked at the Grabhorn Press from 1935-1962.

The Press was passed down to Andrew Hoyem who founded the Arion Press. At Arion, it was used by numerous amazing printers, including Hoyem, Christopher Stinehour, Larry Van Velzer (Foolscap Press), and Brian Ferrett. When Arion Press made its move from the Presidio in San Francisco to its new location at Fort Mason, the printers did not have room for the Victoria in their new space and very generously gave it to First Bite Press. Today, when the Victoria runs into mechanical issues, there are a handful of experienced Bay Area printers who are familiar with the press and have generously offered their advice to get it back up and running.

When you purchase books from the Press, the funds not only go toward making the publication, but they are also used to maintain our hardworking and historically significant printing presses.