History of Tórculos Ribes

Jaime Ribes, Lleida native with a war on his shoulders, better known as “grandpa Jaume”, ask for a 150 pesetas loan to buy a blowtorch, a hammer, a chisel and few other tools which all fit in a wicker basket.

He manage to rent a small space in a workshop in Llacuna street in Barcelona, right at the base of a chimney, preserved at the Faculty of Comunication of Pompeu Fabra University. It is in that location that he offer his services as welder and sheetmetal worker.

At the age of fifteen, Carlos Ribes Fabregat, son of Jaime Ribes, starts working with his father. He learns the craft from him and, as time goes by, takes on the business.

Carlos –already as a the company manager– assists, by costumer petition, to a conference at the Northamerican Studies Institute which is then exhibing a last generation etching press. Although this is the first time that he sees a machine of that kind, he believes he can build one similiar, if not better.

Carlos RIbes Fabregat builds his first etching press. His great knowledge in weldering and iron sheeting, along with the constant comunication with his costumers, improve the quality of his machines.

Carlos Ribes Junior starts working alongside his father. As well as Carlos Ribes senior did years before, he learns the craft from his father and takes on the duties of the business.

Carlos RIbes meets the australian printmaker Cameron Frasker and together they dessign the CAMERON model: an etching press that has the same strength and quaility of the TC model (build up to the date) but adpated to market needs. Having an etching press in a workshop is no longer exclusive of schools, publishers or renown artists.

Tórculos Ribes releases his smallest press: the Cameron model 60x90

At present, we are proud to say that our first presses still work even after more than 45 years of service.