Who is Jim Rimmer? Jim Rimmer was a typographer, letterpress printer and my best friend. I met him for the first time in Spring of 2004 when I was seeking some advice on letterpress printing techniques. That fall I arrived at his home in New Westminster, BC. I remember walking down the gravel path to the side of his house and peering into a very dusty window. In the back of his dimly lit shop, I could scarcely make out the silhouette of a person working on a large iron machine. Excitedly, I knocked on the glass pane door where I was warmly greeted and invited in.
The sight of large black iron machines, the sound of metal gears clinking in the background and the smell of ink and wood had me in awe as I stood at the entrance to his shop. As Jim worked, I witnessed his remarkable skill of transforming raw materials such as lead and paper into beautifully bound books bound by hand. I was fortunate enough to view one of these books and as each crafted page turned, I realized I was holding onto something incredibly special.
Jim inspired many students, including myself, that have come and gone through his shop. He took us to a place where the computer is not the only solution to every problem.
I was so inspired by Jim that shortly after meeting him I spent 2 years putting together my very own letterpress shop, Unison Press, pictured above. The machines in my shop currently lay dormant. I took a break from printing to pursue a documentary film on Jim titled, “From Lead to Gold.” I hope to share with everyone through the film the same inspiration he did with me. There is currently no set release date for the film.
Jim lost his battle with cancer this past Friday. I was so fortunate to have had a final visit with him the evening before he passed away. It is rare to meet someone that can have such a positive impact on one’s life. Jim Rimmer is one of these few exceptional people.
this is a powerful story Ryan, thanks for sharing on your blog.