F.T. Wimble & Co were the manufacturers of the first printing ink produced in the Southern hemisphere (Melbourne, 1868). In addition to printing ink manufacture, type founding and electrotyping, Wimble's were the Australian representatives of many overseas manufacturers of printing machinery and accessories.

Frederick Thomas Wimble (1846-1936) was the son of Benjamin Wimble of Cambridge and grandson of Thomas Wimble of London. The family had been pioneers in the making of printing ink since 1768. Wimbles ink was a standard of England, and was exclusively used by many major printing houses including the Cambridge University Press. Benjamin Wimble introduced coloured ink to England and was one of the most influential men in the printing ink industry.

F.T. Wimble emigrated to Australia for his health, landing in Melbourne on 29 July 1867. He came on the 'Anglesey' with a parcel of lithographic materials, dry colours, bronzes, varnishes, and a big consignment of printing inks selected by his father. He investigated the current printing trade in the colony and concluded that selling imported inks had no future. He foresaw that the only way to make money was to locally manufacture printing inks. He immediately sent home to his father for the materials to create a small printing ink plant consisting of an ink mill, a steam engine, and other objects.

He used his ink mill in 1868 to make a royal blue ink that was used to print Victoria's first newspaper, the 'Evening Star', in Melbourne. The paper used was manufactured by Ramsden Paper Mills, on the banks of the Yarra River, and was the first paper manufactured in Australia. F.T. Wimble & Co grew to be a dominant force in the Australian printing industry for the next 100 years.

The Museum has a significant collection of Wimble's printing equipment from 1868-1994, including printing presses and an extensive archive.

References
The evolution of printing ink: jubilee souvenir of Wimble's, Ltd. Sydney and Melbourne May 1918. (Booklet) (95/223/1-22/6)
F.T. Wimble & Co. Limited 120th anniversary, 1987 (Brochure) (95/223/1-22/46)
Wimble, F.T. Climbing the ladder: being the life story of Fred T. Wimble. Sydney, The Bookman Press, 1924 (95/223/1-22/14)
Wimble's centenary 1967. Reprint of September issue of Australasian Printer, 1967 (95/223/1-22/23)

Possibly John Shaw & Sons, UK (see photo in Atkins).

See Atkins, ed, The art & practice of printing, Vol 5, p.114f for a description of pen ruling. The pen ruling machine uses pens to draw lines in such specialised books as accounting ledgers.
Donated to the Wimble Museum by Thos Dimmock & Sons, Maitland (est.1845) in 1987 and still in use then. Wimble museum item 42.

Pen ruling machine, wood, [John Shaw & Sons or Waite & Sheard Hanley], England, 1900, used by F.T. Wimble & Co, Australia, [1900-1994]

Pen ruling machine, 42" size with teak wooden frame. Paper is fed into the machine upon a revolving blanket and is kept in position by a number of fine cords. For struck work the paper travels along until it is checked by an automatic device known as the gate. The gate retains and releases the paper in such a manner that it reaches the pens at the correct moment. The paper is then carried under pens fed with ink which rest lightly on it and mark it. When it reaches the far end of the machine the sheet of paper passes around a roller down onto a second set of cords which revolve beneath the top blanket and carry the sheet back the full length of the machine. The paper then passes downwards round a roller and is then conveyed by a second revolving blanket to the far end of the machine, where it is delivered by the lay-boy into the box.

Made: 1900

95/223/5

1900

1900 mm

1600 mm