THE RUSTY PRESS at...

Logo for The Rusty Press at Homeward Bound

Why the Rusty Press?

Homeward Bound has built a reputation on restoring fine Bookbinding & Printing Equipment for many years. The early Presses were made with such superior metal and the quality of engineering skills often surpassed those of today. It is for this reason Homeward Bound can restore many early often ‘Rusty’ Beautiful Presses back to their former glory as seen in our Gallery.

bookbinding and printing equipment restored by les baynam of the rusty press at homeward bound

We have over 2,500 sq ft of stock including many rare and hard to find items of equipment.

For many years, we have been supplying not only Commercial Binderies and Print Houses but we also cater for the keen and passionate amateur in Bookbinding & Printmaking.

Here's just a small selection of some of the clients we've worked with over the years:

  • The Royal Library / Windsor Castle

  • Lambeth Palace

  • The Natural History Museum

  • The Henry Welcome Trust

  • London Weekend Television.....

  • Sir Michael Gambon, (Actor)

... and many more large and small companies.

  • Norman Foster + Partners, (Architects)

  • The Scotsman Hotel, (Edinburgh)

  • Harry Potter Studios

  • Ludlow Bookbinders

  • Bensons Bookbinders (London) Ltd

  • Kate Holland Books

We are happy to supply un-restored equipment providing it is in good working order and safe, although we prefer to fully restore Hot Foil Blocking Presses & Board Cutters to ensure reliability and accuracy in their operation.

Some of the hundreds of items in stock, (awaiting restoration or ready to go) include:

  • Sewing Frames

  • Foil Blocking Presses

  • Creasing Machines (Manual & Powered)

  • Board Cutters

  • Guillotines

  • Lay Presses /Wooden & Metal Standing Presses

  • Glueing Machines

  • Round Cornering Machines

  • Albion & Columbian Printing Presses

If you're looking to sell Printing or Book Binding equipment please contact us.

We have just sold, and are currently restoring, a 200 year old very rare Columbian Printing Press. We have just finished 3 Columbian Presses dated between 1840 to1860 for The Scotsman Group of Hotels in Scotland. The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh was built on the site of The Scotsman Newspaper Printing Works over 150 years ago and the Hotel Group wanted something special in their Hotels to commemorate its history.

some of the components of the Scotsman Hotel Columbian Press during restoration in our workshop | les baynam - the rusty press at homeward bound

Pictured above, some of the components of the Scotsman Hotel Columbian Press during restoration in our workshop

We also specialise in Hot Foil Blocking Presses and have found that the early (often originally heated by gas) presses are better than a lot of modern machines and we carry out a full back to bare metal restoration using the latest trouble free heating elements and temperature controllers.

Under Construction

An 1860 Imperial Hot Foil Blocking Press currently undergoing a full back to bare metal restoration including a conversion from Gas to Electric using the latest electrics for an existing client in Devon | les baynam - the rusty press at homeward bound

An 1860 Imperial Hot Foil Blocking Press currently undergoing a full back to bare metal restoration including a conversion from Gas to Electric using the latest electrics for an existing client in Devon

Fully Restored

Pictured above a mid nineteenth century Imperial Hot Foil Blocking Press that we've recently restored and sold