BYU-Idaho gets a replica of Grandin printing press

When Egbert B. Grandin rented space in a newly constructed 85-foot-long, three-story red brick building on Main Street in Palmyra, N.Y., for a printing shop, he had no idea what an impact his work would have on future generations.Grandin printed 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon using an Acorn Hand Press. The original press is located in the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City. For those who cannot go to the museum to see it, there are three copies of the Grandin printing press on display throughout the United States, including one at the Brigham Young University-Idaho David O. McKay Library.Steve Pratt of Pratt Wagon Works built the first reproduction for the restoration of part of the Grandin Building in Palmyra.According to Sam Neilson of the BYU-Idaho library faculty, Pratt made the copy by creating molds from the original."It's about as close as you can get," Neilson said.Pratt made another copy a few years later for the Crandall Historical Printing Museum in Provo, Utah.And now, the third reproduction will reside in the BYU-Idaho McKay Library in Rexburg, Idaho. It is the same as the other reproductions, except painted the bright BYU-Idaho blue color.According to Neilson, BYU-Idaho first got the idea of acquiring a copy of the printing press when the "Ink & Blood: Dead Sea Scrolls to the King James Bible" exhibit was presented at the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls, Idaho.Neilson said school officials were impressed that the reproduction of the Gutenberg printing press replica — also designed by Pratt — displayed at the museum was operated in a live demonstration.BYU-Idaho offers the same deal as that exhibit, with a slight twist. Anyone who visits the Grandin reproduction at BYU-Idaho will be able not only see how the printer works, but also can use it as well.Neilson said he's thought about printing a copy of the Book of Mormon on the printing press but decided it was a much bigger project than he'd like to take on."It's old enough that a lot of it has to be relearned. The process was not written down, so we are barely learning how to use it," Neilson said.Though the printing press is mainly for the benefit of students, it is available to anybody who is interested. To schedule an appointment to use the printing press, call Lana Hepworth at 208-496-2350.The grand opening was held Friday in the McKay Library, Room 249.