St. George's Historical Society volunteer David Ker describes himself as a 'nuts and bolts' kind of guy.

As an aeronautical technologist he was involved with cutting-edge technology. Now, in his retirement, he works with technology that is 500 years old.

"No matter how much horsepower I put into this I can't make it fly," Mr. Ker laughed as he turned the handle on the printing press in the basement of the St. George's Historical Society Museum.

The printer, recently restored by Mr. Ker, is rapidly becoming a popular attraction with visitors to St. George's.

This is especially true since other museums in the area, such as Tucker House, have had to cut back the number of days they are open, due to the financial climate.

The press is located in Mitchell House, built in the 1730s by a prosperous St. George's merchant. In the 1920s it fell into disrepair. A group of concerned local women got together and raised funds to save it from being knocked down. In turn, they formed the St. George's Historical Society.

The printing press was commissioned by the Bermuda Press Limited in 1959, to commemorate Bermuda's 350th anniversary.

The press is meant to resemble the one used by Johannes Gutenberg to print the Bible in 1452; and the one used in Bermuda by King's printer Joseph Stockdale in 1784.

It was made in Heidelberg Germany, by the Hiedelberg Press.

"They are known around the world for their high speed printing presses," said Mr. Ker.

"I got involved through Jeannie Olander, president of the St. George's Historical Society, twisting my arm. The press had sat idle for about 10 years.

"It was in poor shape. There was some corrosion on the iron parts. Parts were broken. They needed a fix-it-person. I agreed to take it apart. Then she twisted the other arm and said, 'will it print anything?'"

It does now print out a small souvenir notice for tourists.

But he said this model is not typical of what Johannes Gutenberg would have used.

"It has metal parts," said Mr. Ker. "I am trying to get ahold of the company to find out what it was modelled on, but I understand the company has been sold.

"I am thinking this model might be based on one from the middle part of the industrial revolution, maybe even late 1800s."

Mr. Stockdale printed Bermuda's first newspaper, in the early days mostly news from abroad, government notices, and advertisements by local merchants. When Mr. Stockdale died 20 years later, his daughter and son-in-law took over the business.

The printing press wasn't actually located in the basement of Mitchell House. The rooms would have been used by the Mitchell family as slave quarters.

It would have been located in Mr. Stockdale's house around the corner.

"But it was probably also kept in the basement of the family living quarters," said Mr. Ker. "A lot of people had a business downstairs and lived upstairs."

Mr. Ker said surviving samples of Mr. Stockdale's work show very fine quality printing.

There would have been at least three men involved, one man to handle the paper so it wouldn't get smudged, one to compile the metal type into words, and one to ink the letters.

Type would have been arranged backwards and left to right to produce a mirror image. There was also punctuation, lines and spacing to consider.

Paper was moistened at night to make ink transfer easier in the morning.

After the pages were printed they were hung to dry.

"The challenge for me has been learning all the intricacies of the printing process," said Mr. Ker. "I just came in and experimented. I have been making guesstimates how it might have been done.

"The hardest part was learning the inking and printing process. There is a lot of technique in that. We are getting acceptable to getting to a more acceptable print now."

Unfortunately, the press is still missing parts. Mr. Ker appealed for help from the community.

"If anyone has any pictures of this machine, or drawings of how it should be put together, I would like to see them," said Mr. Ker.

When The Royal Gazette spoke with Mr. Ker one visitor to the museum was Joel Moline of St. Peter, Minnesota.

Mr. Moline was in Bermuda visiting friends. He had a special interest in the printing press as he is a printmaker. As a gift to the museum he made up a stamp of a hog to go in the printing press.

"Surprisingly, there are quite a few printers like this," said Mr. Moline. "A lot of small press operators and wood engravers enjoy bookbinding and do artist books.

"Once you get involved in engraving you soon find yourself interested in other aspects of printmaking, letter press, type and other things.

"I have an etching press and a small proof press. I think this is a very nice thing for any tourist to see."

Mr. Ker said school groups particularly enjoy having a go at the machine, and a book press that is from the early 1900s.

"They like doing stuff," he said. "They are dead bored wandering around."

But the museum has plenty to interest adults who like history and antiques.

It is chock full of items donated by the community over the years, vintage toys and dolls, china, paintings and carvings among other things.

The kitchen is authentic 18th century with an old cooking fireplace and separate bread oven. Volunteers at the museum often do cooking demonstrations for scheduled school groups.

The museum also includes a photographic exhibition of the work of Nicholas Lusher showing portraits of Bermudians from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Unfortunately, The St. George's Historical Society sometimes suffers from a low profile.

"A lot of people don't even know where we are," said Mrs. Olander.

They are located on the corner of Duke of Kent Street & Feather Bed Alley. Cost to visit the museum is $5 for adults and $2 for children. It is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. except Fridays, Sundays and public holidays.

To arrange group tours or to reserve the garden for small private functions call 297-0715.