The Kynoch Press
A Birmingham fine press established as the company printing operation of the Kynoch ammunition manufacturer.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Kynoch Press was an English fine press based in Witton, Birmingham, established in 1876 by the Kynoch company, a British manufacturer of ammunition and related industrial products. It began primarily as an in-house facility for printing packaging and other company materials, but gradually developed a broader reputation for typographic quality, book production, design, and commercial printing. Its work occupied an unusual position between a corporate printing department, a commercial printer, a small private press, and a fine press. The press was created partly to support Kynoch's publicity and communications needs. Its output included packaging, internal publications, promotional literature, type specimens, and other materials used to present the parent company's products and activities. It also accepted or produced work outside the immediate needs of the business. This independent activity allowed the press to print books, catalogues, poems, journals, and other finely designed publications for external clients and cultural institutions. A major period of recognition came under H. Donald Hope, who was associated with the press from 1900 to 1921. During the following decade, from 1922 to 1933, the press commissioned work from prominent artists including Eric Ravilious and Tirzah Garwood. Herbert Simon, who had previously worked for William Edwin Rudge, was associated with the press from 1919 to 1922 and helped extend the standards established during Hope's period. Simon later joined his brother Oliver Simon at the Curwen Press. The press underwent several changes of direction during the twentieth century. H. V. Davis led it from 1934 to 1938, a period described in historical accounts as comparatively unproductive. Michael Clapham managed the press from 1938 to 1945, including the constrained years of the Second World War. Despite wartime limitations, the press launched Endeavor, a quarterly scientific journal, in 1942. John “Jock” Kennedy led the organization from 1945 to 1958 and restored its prominence by placing a strong emphasis on design. Wallis Heath, managing director from 1959 to 1976, pursued export opportunities and adopted computer-assisted lithographic developments in an effort to maintain a viable position for a medium-sized printing operation in a changing industry. When Kynoch became part of Imperial Chemical Industries Limited in 1929, The Kynoch Press continued as an ICI division while retaining its established name. Its in-house work included I.C.I. Magazine, while its external production included literary, historical, scientific, sporting, and art-related titles. Among its notable projects were a 1931 edition of Sir Philip Sidney's Astrophel and Stella, the 1923 English printing of A Brief Survey of Printing, and a range of catalogues and limited-edition works. The press also promoted its capabilities through Specimens of Types In Use At The Kynoch Press, first issued in 1934 and supplemented in later years. Harry Wainwright became managing director in 1976 and was instructed to sell the press. A prospective buyer, Gilmer and Dean, was identified in 1979, but the operation ultimately closed in 1981. The closure followed a failed management buyout, with resistance to proposed layoffs by the relevant union contributing to the failure of the transaction. The Kynoch Press therefore ended as an operating press in 1981, leaving a historical record associated with British corporate printing, fine typography, commissioned illustration, and the transition from traditional printing practices toward newer lithographic and computer-supported methods.
History
The Kynoch Press was founded in 1876 at Witton in Birmingham as the company press of Kynoch, an industrial manufacturer known particularly for ammunition. Its original role was functional: it printed packaging and materials required by the parent business. Kynoch also recognized the value of controlling its publicity and presentation, and the printing department developed into a more ambitious operation capable of producing carefully designed commercial and promotional work. Over time, the press operated in several overlapping ways. It remained responsible for Kynoch's and later ICI's corporate printing, but it also undertook independent commissions and produced books, catalogues, journals, and other publications. This combination gave it the character of a medium-sized commercial printer while allowing it to pursue the standards and methods associated with a fine press or private press. Its output ranged from industrial communications to literary works, scientific publishing, art catalogues, and typographic specimens. H. Donald Hope's tenure from 1900 to 1921 brought wider recognition. From 1922 to 1933, the press commissioned artists including Eric Ravilious and Tirzah Garwood. Herbert Simon, who had earlier worked at William Edwin Rudge, was connected with the press between 1919 and 1922 and helped build on the quality associated with Hope's period. In 1933 he moved to the Curwen Press, where he joined his brother Oliver Simon. The following management period, under H. V. Davis from 1934 to 1938, was comparatively weak. Michael Clapham took responsibility from 1938 to 1945, a period affected by wartime scarcity and restrictions. Nevertheless, the press introduced Endeavor, a quarterly scientific journal, in 1942. After the war, John “Jock” Kennedy managed the press from 1945 to 1958 and emphasized design, helping return it to a prominent position in the printing field. Wallis Heath served as managing director from 1959 to 1976. He sought to preserve the business through export activity and the adoption of computer-assisted lithographic techniques, reflecting the pressure that changing production technology and market conditions placed on established print organizations. The corporate setting also changed. When Kynoch became part of Imperial Chemical Industries Limited in 1929, The Kynoch Press continued as a division of ICI and maintained its historic identity. Its in-house output included I.C.I. Magazine, while external work included Sir Philip Sidney's Astrophel and Stella, a 1923 English printing of A Brief Survey of Printing – History and Practice, sporting and literary pamphlets, and catalogues documenting collections of ceramics and other decorative arts. The press publicized its technical capabilities through Specimens of Types In Use At The Kynoch Press, issued in 1934 with supplements covering later additions to its type resources. Harry Wainwright became managing director in 1976 and was instructed to find a buyer. A possible purchaser, Gilmer and Dean, was identified in 1979, but the transaction did not secure the press's future. A management buyout also failed, with the unwillingness of the union to accept layoffs cited as one factor. The Kynoch Press closed in 1981. Its legacy is consequently tied to the history of British fine printing, corporate publishing, illustrated book production, and the adaptation of traditional presses to modern lithographic methods.
- 1981
Operations end
[1]The Kynoch Press closes following the failure of sale and management-buyout efforts.
- 1979
Potential buyer identified
[1]Gilmer and Dean is identified as a possible buyer, but the proposed change of ownership does not preserve the press.
- 1959
Export and new lithographic methods become priorities
[1]Under Wallis Heath, the press seeks a sustainable market position through exports and computer-assisted lithographic developments.
- 1942
Endeavor is launched
[1]The press launches Endeavor, a quarterly scientific journal, during the wartime management of Michael Clapham.
- 1934
Type specimen series issued
[1]The Kynoch Press publishes Specimens of Types In Use At The Kynoch Press, followed by supplements recording later type additions.
- 1931
Astrophel and Stella edition printed
[1]The press produces an edition of Sir Philip Sidney's Astrophel and Stella.
- 1929
Kynoch becomes part of ICI
[1]The Kynoch Press continues as an ICI division after Kynoch becomes part of Imperial Chemical Industries.
- 1923
English printing of A Brief Survey of Printing
[1]The press prints in England A Brief Survey of Printing – History and Practice for American publication.
- 1922
Artist commissions expand
[1]The press enters a period of commissioning leading artists, including Eric Ravilious and Tirzah Garwood.
- 1900
H. Donald Hope begins a significant management period
[1]Hope's association with the press begins a period that later histories credit with raising its profile and reputation.
Products and positioning
A high-quality British corporate and fine press combining industrial communications, commercial printing, book production, and typographic design.
Commercial printing · 1876
Corporate packaging and publicity printing
The press was originally established to print packaging for Kynoch and later produced publicity, promotional, and corporate communications for Kynoch and ICI. This industrial work formed the operational foundation beneath its better-known fine-printing activities.
Corporate magazine · 1920
I.C.I. Magazine
I.C.I. Magazine was an in-house periodical associated with the press's continuing role inside Imperial Chemical Industries. It exemplified the press's function as a corporate publisher as well as a producer of externally commissioned books and printed matter.
Printing history book · 1923
A Brief Survey of Printing – History and Practice
This work by Stanley Morison and Holbrook Jackson was published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf and printed in England by The Kynoch Press. It reflects the press's ability to handle typographic and publishing work intended for an international readership.
Literary book · 1931
Astrophel and Stella
The Kynoch Press produced a 1931 edition of Sir Philip Sidney's Astrophel and Stella. The title represents the press's fine-book and literary publishing work beyond its industrial and corporate assignments.
Type specimen · 1934
Specimens of Types In Use At The Kynoch Press
First issued in 1934, this specimen presented the types available to the press and served both as a technical record and as promotional material. Supplements published in subsequent years documented additional typefaces and demonstrated the press's typographic capabilities.
Scientific journal · 1942
Endeavor
Endeavor was a quarterly scientific journal launched by The Kynoch Press in 1942. Its creation during the Second World War demonstrated that the press continued to develop editorial and publishing projects despite material and operational constraints.
Catalogue printing
Art and collection catalogues
The press printed catalogues documenting collections of Italian and other maiolica, medieval English pottery, and European faience. Such projects required careful typography and the presentation of detailed collection information, extending the press's work into the art and decorative-arts publishing field.
Brand decisions
1976
Seek a sale of the pressStrategyBackground
Harry Wainwright became managing director while the press's corporate owners directed him to find a buyer.
Action taken
Wainwright pursued a sale and identified Gilmer and Dean as a prospective purchaser in 1979.
Aftermath
The proposed sale and a subsequent management buyout failed; the press closed in 1981, with disagreement over layoffs contributing to the unsuccessful buyout.
1959
Pursue exports and computer-assisted lithographyStrategyBackground
The medium-sized press faced a changing printing market and needed to identify a viable position against new production methods and competitive pressures.
Action taken
Managing director Wallis Heath pursued export business and adopted computer-assisted lithographic advances.
Aftermath
The strategy sought to preserve the press's relevance, but it did not prevent eventual closure.
1942
Launch EndeavorProduct launchBackground
The press was operating under wartime constraints but retained the capacity to undertake editorial and scientific publishing.
Action taken
It launched Endeavor as a quarterly scientific journal.
Aftermath
The journal became one of the press's notable publishing projects from the wartime period.
1929
Continue the press within Imperial Chemical IndustriesM&ABackground
Kynoch became part of Imperial Chemical Industries, creating a new corporate setting for its established printing operation.
Action taken
The Kynoch Press was retained as an ICI division and continued to operate under its existing name.
Aftermath
The press continued both in-house ICI work and independent printing activity for decades.
Sources1 sources
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