the Papertrail
type: channel
date: 2026-08-09T13:37:12Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
generator agent: https://wordpress.org/
items: Mackenzie Printery’s Albion Press
items: Tororo-aoi in full bloom
items: Tororo-aoi Fast Growth (in the smoke)
items: Tororo-aoi in Bloom Already
items: Growing Tororo-aoi Again
items: Papermaking Workshop, August 15th, 2026
items: Monotype Computer Interface—Complete at last!
items: Papermaking in Japan—Part 5
items: Papermaking in Japan—Part 4
items: Monotype Fo(u)nt Scheme Oddity

Mackenzie Printery’s Albion Press
type: item
date: 2026-08-09T13:37:12Z
creator: kpmartin
subject: Equipment Acquisition, Repair, and Maintenance
subject: Kevin
description: The Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum in Queenston, Ontario has a small Albion press which needs a bit of work to get it into top form. The pull handle does not retract all the way when released, so it interferes… Read more ›
encoded: The Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum in Queenston, Ontario has a small Albion press which needs a bit of work to get it into top form. The pull handle does not retract all the way when released, so it interferes with opening the frisket frame. Over the years this has chewed up the pull handle a bit. <img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4668" class="wp-image-4668 size-large" src="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-1024x591.jpg" alt="" width="605" height="349" srcset="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-1024x591.jpg 1024w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-300x173.jpg 300w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-768x443.jpg 768w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-1536x886.jpg 1536w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-100x58.jpg 100w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-150x87.jpg 150w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-200x115.jpg 200w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-450x260.jpg 450w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-600x346.jpg 600w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail-900x519.jpg 900w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260808_detail.jpg 1645w" sizes="(max-width: 605px) 100vw, 605px" /> Pull handle damage from frisket frame. Bare wood is modern damage, but you can see older damage a bit to the left, though the latter might be due to not cranking the bed all the way out before opening the frisket The handle is not retracting all the way because the pivot end is striking one of the bolts that hold the platen to the column. The bottom of the column actually has a land cut into it to place the nut a bit lower so the handle clears it, but the pull handle is h…

Tororo-aoi in full bloom
type: item
date: 2026-08-09T12:31:46Z
creator: kpmartin
subject: Home-grown supplies
description: The tororo-aoi plants I’m growing come from several seed sources, with one producing plants much obviously larger than the others. Up until now only the larger plants had bloomed, and they now have several very large seed pods on them.… Read more ›
encoded: The tororo-aoi plants I’m growing come from several seed sources, with one producing plants much obviously larger than the others. Up until now only the larger plants had bloomed, and they now have several very large seed pods on them. But finally, the smaller plants have started blooming, at least the ones seeded indoors, though the direct-seeded plants are still behind in development. This variety seems to produce numerous flower buds from a single spot at the growing tip of the plant, and the flowers are noticeably larger than the ones on the larger plant. <img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4662" class="wp-image-4662 size-large" src="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-574x1024.jpg" alt="" width="574" height="1024" srcset="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-574x1024.jpg 574w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-168x300.jpg 168w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-768x1369.jpg 768w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-862x1536.jpg 862w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-1149x2048.jpg 1149w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-100x178.jpg 100w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-150x267.jpg 150w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-200x356.jpg 200w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-300x535.jpg 300w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-450x802.jpg 450w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-600x1069.jpg 600w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-900x1604.jpg 900w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260723_170037-scaled.jpg 1436w" sizes="(max-width: 574px) 100vw, 574px" /> Buds on one of the smaller p…

Tororo-aoi Fast Growth (in the smoke)
type: item
date: 2026-07-16T14:41:21Z
creator: kpmartin
subject: Home-grown supplies
subject: Kevin
description: My last post, from four days ago, only showed details of some of the plants. Here is what the tororo-aoi patch looks like overall: The difference between the four larger plants, the smaller indoor-sprouted medium plants, and the smallest direct-seeded… Read more ›
encoded: My last post, from four days ago, only showed details of some of the plants. Here is what the tororo-aoi patch looks like overall: <img class="aligncenter wp-image-4657 size-large" src="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-1024x361.jpg" alt="" width="605" height="213" srcset="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-1024x361.jpg 1024w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-300x106.jpg 300w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-768x271.jpg 768w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-1536x542.jpg 1536w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-2048x722.jpg 2048w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-100x35.jpg 100w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-150x53.jpg 150w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-200x71.jpg 200w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-450x159.jpg 450w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-600x212.jpg 600w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115346-900x317.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 605px) 100vw, 605px" />The difference between the four larger plants, the smaller indoor-sprouted medium plants, and the smallest direct-seeded plants is evident. I’m also managing an uncharacteristically (for me) good job of controlling the weeds. The largest plant in the centre has a pod about 15cm long: <img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4658" src="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115407-180x300.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="300" srcset="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115407-180x300.jpg 180w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260715_115407-615x1024.jpg 615w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-conten…

Tororo-aoi in Bloom Already
type: item
date: 2026-07-11T13:31:17Z
creator: kpmartin
subject: Home-grown supplies
subject: Kevin
description: Some of my tororo-aoi plants are already producing flowers, about 3 weeks after transplanting into the garden. The flowers don’t last long so I don’t have a photo of one in full bloom yet, but in one of the photos… Read more ›
encoded: Some of my tororo-aoi plants are already producing flowers, about 3 weeks after transplanting into the garden. The flowers don’t last long so I don’t have a photo of one in full bloom yet, but in one of the photos you can see the dropped blossom with the young seed pod on the plant.<img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4649" src="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-210x300.jpg" alt="" width="210" height="300" srcset="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-210x300.jpg 210w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-715x1024.jpg 715w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-768x1100.jpg 768w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-1073x1536.jpg 1073w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-1430x2048.jpg 1430w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-100x143.jpg 100w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-150x215.jpg 150w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-200x286.jpg 200w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-300x430.jpg 300w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-450x644.jpg 450w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-600x859.jpg 600w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-900x1289.jpg 900w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154337-scaled.jpg 1788w" sizes="(max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px" /><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4650" src="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154409-238x300.jpg" alt="" width="238" height="300" srcset="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154409-238x300.jpg 238w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260710_154409-814x10…

Growing Tororo-aoi Again
type: item
date: 2026-07-06T15:24:49Z
creator: kpmartin
subject: Home-grown supplies
subject: Kevin
subject: Alexandre Bonton
description: This year, after my encouraging results in workshops both at Bishop’s University last August and in Japan this March, I wanted to try growing my own tororo-aoi plants again. The roots of this plant are used to produce neri, a… Read more ›
encoded: This year, after my encouraging results in workshops both at Bishop’s University last August and in Japan this March, I wanted to try growing my own tororo-aoi plants again. The roots of this plant are used to produce neri, a slimy formation aid used in Japanese-style papermaking. I had previously grown some in 2007 in my vegetable garden with moderate success, using seeds I obtained from Tim Barrett at the IAPMA conference in Banff, and also in 2017 in my front garden using seeds from various sources. The 2007 effort gave me several good roots, some of which I’ve used and some of which are still in the freezer. I have yet to thaw them to see if they still produce good neri after 19 years frozen. The more recent crop yielded almost no useful roots, but I don’t know if the problem was growing conditions, soil quality, or plant variety. This time, I have seeds from at least four sources: From the 2017 season I had seeds left over from Richter’s and from AliExpress. From the workshop at Bishop’s University, I had seeds provided by Alex (the workshop lead) and seeds that we had gathered from the 2025 crop during the workshop. I planted the seeds in a covered tray under grow lights on May 6th, and by the 14th they had pretty much all sprouted. I had thought the seed coats would need nicking so I cut a chunk of the seed coat on half the seeds, but it appears this was unnecessary, and perhaps even detrimental as some of the sprouts pushed themselves up instead of pushing their root into the soil. <img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4640" class="wp-image-4640 size-medium" src="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260516_110225-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" srcset="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260516_110225-300x224.jpg 300w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260516_110225-1024x766.jpg 1024w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/20260516_110225-768x575.jpg 768w, https://p…

Papermaking Workshop, August 15th, 2026
type: item
date: 2026-07-06T13:58:12Z
creator: kpmartin
subject: Our own courses and workshops
subject: Upcoming Events
description: We will be holding our Introductory Papermaking workshop on Saturday, August 15th, 2026. The workshop runs from 9am to 4pm with a 1-hour lunch break, at our shop in New Dundee, Ontario. The cost for the workshop is $80 plus… Read more ›
encoded: We will be holding our Introductory Papermaking workshop on Saturday, August 15th, 2026. The workshop runs from 9am to 4pm with a 1-hour lunch break, at our shop in New Dundee, Ontario. The cost for the workshop is $80 plus HST, for a total of $90.40, including materials.

Monotype Computer Interface—Complete at last!
type: item
date: 2026-05-28T17:59:40Z
creator: kpmartin
subject: Caster Computer Control
subject: Equipment Acquisition, Repair, and Maintenance
subject: Kevin
description: After far too long the computer interface for my Monotype Composition Caster is complete. In this case, “complete” means that it is a single self-contained unit with no straggling wires. My last step was to add a housing/support bracket for… Read more ›
encoded: After far too long the computer interface for my Monotype Composition Caster is complete. In this case, “complete” means that it is a single self-contained unit with no straggling wires. My last step was to add a housing/support bracket for the power plug connector and 24 volt power supply. The design for this had to be adjusted so the entire unit would still fit on the caster. <img class="size-medium wp-image-4620 alignleft" src="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-150x300.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="300" srcset="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-150x300.jpg 150w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-511x1024.jpg 511w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-768x1538.jpg 768w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-767x1536.jpg 767w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-1022x2048.jpg 1022w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-100x200.jpg 100w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-200x401.jpg 200w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-300x601.jpg 300w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-450x901.jpg 450w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-600x1202.jpg 600w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-900x1803.jpg 900w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152023-scaled.jpg 1278w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /> <img class="size-medium wp-image-4621 alignright" src="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152031-162x300.jpg" alt="" width="162" height="300" srcset="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152031-162x300.jpg 162w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260527_152031…

Papermaking in Japan—Part 5
type: item
date: 2026-05-20T14:29:34Z
creator: kpmartin
subject: Hand Papermaking
subject: Kevin
subject: Oguni Washi intensive workshop
subject: Paul Denhoed
description: Other notes This is a bit of a wrap-up along with some reference links shared during the workshop Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Travel and sightseeing Part 3: Extracurricular activities Part 4: The actual papermaking workshop A book on tool… Read more ›
encoded: Other notes This is a bit of a wrap-up along with some reference links shared during the workshop Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Travel and sightseeing Part 3: Extracurricular activities Part 4: The actual papermaking workshop A book on tool making One book available to us during breaks was the a report on traditional Japanese papermaking tools. We had a printed copy to look through, but it is also available as a PDF file through the above link. The PDF file has text in it (rather than just page images) but I’ve been unable to get translations so far, as the PDF file is locked to prevent content copying or even printing. All I can do is take screen shots in the PDF viewer, and translate the screen shots of a page at a time. While at the workshop I was using Google Lens on my phone to get the gist of some of the contents. The title page reads: Record of Techniques for Making Handmade Washi Paper Tools National Handmade Washi Paper Tools Manufacturing Technology Preservation Society 40th Anniversary Commemorative Publication Two of the introductory pages read: Chapter 1: A Note on Publication I. A Greeting on the Publication (Keiko Ihara, Chairperson, National Association for the Preservation of Traditional Handmade Washi Paper Making Techniques) The National Association for the Preservation of Handmade Washi Paper Tools was designated a nationally selected organization for the preservation of traditional techniques in 1976, and this year marks its 40th anniversary. It is with great joy that all members of the association can publish the “Record of Handmade Washi Paper Tools Production Techniques” to coincide with this momentous occasion. Our preservation society has so far played a role in the field of handmade Japanese paper by creating tools, but as we commemorate our 40th anniversary, we would like to make even greater efforts to contribute to the preservation and development of handmade Japanese paper, a traditional craft. Handmade washi paper from all over Japan e…

Papermaking in Japan—Part 4
type: item
date: 2026-05-16T13:02:01Z
creator: kpmartin
subject: Hand Papermaking
subject: Kevin
subject: Oguni Washi intensive workshop
subject: Paul Denhoed
description: The actual papermaking workshop At last, on to the actual workshop! Please also see the other parts of this series: Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Travel and sightseeing Part 3: Extracurricular activities Part 5: Other Notes Monday: Fibre Preparation We… Read more ›
encoded: The actual papermaking workshop At last, on to the actual workshop! Please also see the other parts of this series: Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Travel and sightseeing Part 3: Extracurricular activities Part 5: Other Notes Monday: Fibre Preparation We were using fibre from previous years’ kozo harvests, when the stems had been steamed and the bark stripped off and dried. We started with this raw bark, which had been soaked to soften it up again, and spent a good chunk of the morning scraping off the “black bark”, which is the outermost bark layer that you see on the surface of the live stems. This bark is a fairly thin, almost flimsy, non-fibrous layer which was scraped off by dragging the bark strips against large kitchen knives with a scrap of carpeting as a backer. <img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4540" class="wp-image-4540 size-large" src="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/010BD6DF-1120-408F-B51D-9868CEA10A22Shrunk-2-768x1024.jpg" alt="" width="605" height="807" srcset="https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/010BD6DF-1120-408F-B51D-9868CEA10A22Shrunk-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/010BD6DF-1120-408F-B51D-9868CEA10A22Shrunk-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/010BD6DF-1120-408F-B51D-9868CEA10A22Shrunk-2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/010BD6DF-1120-408F-B51D-9868CEA10A22Shrunk-2-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/010BD6DF-1120-408F-B51D-9868CEA10A22Shrunk-2-100x133.jpg 100w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/010BD6DF-1120-408F-B51D-9868CEA10A22Shrunk-2-150x200.jpg 150w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/010BD6DF-1120-408F-B51D-9868CEA10A22Shrunk-2-200x267.jpg 200w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/010BD6DF-1120-408F-B51D-9868CEA10A22Shrunk-2-300x400.jpg 300w, https://papertrail.ca/blog/wp-content/u…

Monotype Fo(u)nt Scheme Oddity
type: item
date: 2026-04-21T15:32:32Z
creator: kpmartin
subject: Font Casting
description: I was casting some type this week when I noticed an oddity on the font schemes listed in the back of the The Monotype Casting Machine Manual, which is the basis for my usual casting font schemes. The font scheme… Read more ›
encoded: I was casting some type this week when I noticed an oddity on the font schemes listed in the back of the The Monotype Casting Machine Manual, which is the basis for my usual casting font schemes. The font scheme gives the count of how many of each sort are cast to make up a font, and these were based on English text from around the early twentieth century. Although some foundries would sell type with uppercase, lowercase, points (punctuation), and figures each being packaged separately, allowing the customer to make their own upper-/lowercase balance, the Monotype schemes are for a complete set including both upper- and lowercase as well as figures and points. There are two basic schemes: The ‘body’ scheme represents the letter frequencies encountered when composing running text in full sentences and paragraphs. The ‘jobber’ scheme represents the frequencies encountered when composing titles, headings, point-form lists, and other such items which generally require many more uppercase letters. If you compare the two classes of schemes, it is generally the case that the counts of lowercase are the same, but in the Jobber schemes, the uppercase count if increased by about 2 less than 0.28 times the count of the corresponding lowercase. So, for instance with the letter ‘e’, either scheme has 118 lowercase, the body scheme has 12 uppercase, and the jobber scheme has 44 uppercase, which is close to 12+0.28×118-2 (equaling about 43). That 0.28 figure is very vaguely in the ballpark of the reciprocal of the average word length (5 letters), and so what you would expect for titles, where pretty much every word is capitalized. For the rarer letters, this formula gets fudged a bit, with uppercase ‘Z’ having 4 sorts in either case, and ‘F’ having 6 in body and 10 in jobber, but with 24 lowercase, the formula yields 13. Some other letters are one or two extra uppercase away from the formula as well. The real outlier, though, is M, where the jobber scheme actually has 4 fewer than…