Ocean Works Press was started up in 1979 by Conrad A. Schwable and his partner Steve Andrews. Conrad had just completed a two year apprenticeship at Tamarind Institute in Albuquerque, NM. He received his Tamarind Master Printer certificate and was eager to get back to Orange Co., CA to start printing. The shop was located in an 1100 sq.ft. building in the cannery section of old Newport Beach.

Several months were spent building tables, shelves, drying racks, and a graining sink on which to surface the limestone printing elements. Stone racks were set-up and the press finally arrived. Besides the heavy equipment, all the chemicals, inks, papers, inking rollers, and miscellaneous hand tools had to be procured. One of the last items needed was a sign for out front. We decided on a sand blasted redwood sign painted with the logo colors of blue, green and white with gold leaf. We ordered some stationery and opened up for business. It took a while to be discovered but we finally took-off.

The shop had two Tackach/Garfield motorized litho presses which could handle stones up to 39"x60" and plates the same size. We had an inventory of 45 beautiful Bavarian limestones as well as Afion Onyx. Many type of processes were available at Ocean Works as you can see by the variety in the print collection.