Leaf-caster produced at the University of Tartu

In the TYPA Printing and Paper Arts Center, you can see a leaf-casting machine produced in the experimental workshop of the University of Tartu in the 1990s. This machine was used in the library of the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute for book restoration. After the turn of the century, the machine was donated to the Estonian Academy of Arts, where it remained unused. On 25 May 2018, the machine was donated to the TYPA Centre by Taavi Tiidor, a representative of the EAA.

Experimental workshop at the University of Tartu

In the workshop, various machines were manufactured, e.g. in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, and restoration. The production of paper restoration machines was initiated at the university by Endel Valk-Falk (leather artist, restorer, and historian of binding). The workshop was located in the main building of the University until the fire in 1965. In 1967, it moved to Narva mnt 4. For a while, the workshop had temporary premises on Riia mnt. In 1999, the department officially ceased its activities as the University decided that the workshop was no longer needed. Nevertheless, orders continued to come in, as several museums needed them.

Production of leaf-casting machines

The machines were made with bronze frames because they were rust-resistant. The casting of the bronze frames was ordered from Tartu, but later, this option was not available, so frames from there, frames were ordered from the Tallinn shipyard.

Ado Jaagosild, a mechanical engineer and then (1959-99) head of the experimental workshop, was involved in the production of the leaf-casting machines. While he was in Tallinn, Jaagosild met a Danish restorer who had written a book on the subject, which helped him to build the machine. Information about the leaf-casting machines spread across the Soviet Union via the University of Tartu Library (the library was visited by guests from all over the Union who spread the word). Orders also came from all over the world.