Welcome to Howard Iron Works - Printing Museum and Antique Printing Machinery Restoration

Howard Iron Works - Printing and Bookbinding Equipment Restoration and Printing Museum

At any given time, our Restoration Team works on several projects simultaneously. For historical and archival purposes, our HIW photographer diligently takes pictures during the restoration and documents the various processes each machine is being put through. We have compiled the photos in a photo gallery for each machine. We hope you enjoy them.

Click Gallery Index to view other Photo Galleries.

We offer our restoration services to others, and will also complete machines that can be either purchased or leased for use or as beautiful displays

For inquiries about our restoration services, please contact: info@howardironworks.org

We derived our name from this old established manufacturer of machinery in Buffalo, NY. Howard Iron Works established in 1847, was known for many products such as fire hydrants, vices, bolt making machinery and even paper cutters. The most famous of which was the GEM. This machine was a manual hand lever design. That meant one would have to use brute force pulling on a large cast iron lever in order to bring the blade down. During the mid to late 1800’s, Howard Iron Works (Buffalo) produced hundreds of GEM manual guillotines, as well as the motorized versions.

Our machine, emblazoned with a large brass plate as well as cast letters on front and back of the machine, has been completely restored to look just as it did leaving the factory in the mid 1880s.

Featured here is the restoration of the 1885 Howard Iron Works Gem-30 Guillotine..

Printing Museum and Restoration	800 Westgate Road Oakville, ON L6L 5N2 Tel. (905) 821-0000 Email: info@howardironworks.org Website: www.howardironworks.org	- The Collection - Restoration - HIW Museum - Lease/Sales Program	- Antique Books & Periodicals - About HIW - Volunteering Opportunities - Museum Shop