Edmonton Fun Find: Royal Rubber Stamp Museum
Whenever we are visiting a city we challenge ourselves to find something fun/interesting that you won’t find by doing a Google search, or surfing the local tourist agency’s website. We love finding an off-the-beaten-path café, bookstore, art gallery, tiny museum, mural, pocket park or piece of public art. We do this by taking the sidewalk less travelled, by looking in back alleys and shop windows – you will be surprised by what you find.
You never know what you will find, when you look in a store front window.
We could also see this display of artifacts from the window.
Fun Find
Just a small sample of the Royal Rubber Stamp & Sign Co.’s work
Recently, while in Edmonton we stumbled upon the Royal Rubber Stamp & Sign Company (106 - 109 St), while out for a night walk. It was our first night and so after dinner we decided to take bit of a walk to see what the neighbourhood might have to offer.
As we wandered past a widow we noticed two old machines in the window. One said it was Crown Press, patented February 14, 1888, making it one of the first-mechanical self-inking stamps, the other said Metal Type Cutter, no date. Looking inside we could see a display cabinet with dozens of old office stamps. We couldn’t help but wonder, what else they might have and made a note to return another day.
A few days later we found ourselves walking by the shop and decided to go inside and ask if we could look at the display of old stamps. We were welcomed to come in have a look and take photos. Soon we were getting a tour, by Jim Avery the Production Manager. After looking at the old stamps we were then taken on a tour of the entire facility. We got to see first-hand how stamps and signs are made today with state-of-the-art equipment. Rubber stamps that used to take an hour to make are now made in a minute.
It was a fun crash course on the history of stamp making, as well as how the Royal Rubber Stamp & Sign Co. has evolved.
Link: History of Rubber Stamps
The Royal Rubber Stamp delivery car from the early ‘60s.
Royal Stamp Fun Facts:
Lion head corporate seal stamps (they have two) are the most valuable, and are used by one Edmonton law firm as a gift to young lawyers.
Royal has a Dahlgren System One machine the first computerized engraver sold. It is the second one sold in Canada and 12th one in the world.
Royal is about to retire its Model A, Automatic Plate Maker Model from the early ‘80s. The unit has been making all their photopolymer stamps for 40 years. Prior to that, they were stamps were made by heating and pressing real rubber.
It is being replaced by a Trotec Speedy 360, with a 120 watt laser. Sounds impressive to me, especially after we saw one in action.
Royal Stamp History 101
Royal is a family owned business that has been serving Edmonton and Alberta since 1957.
Founder Ray Hopkins, an engineer by trade, saw an ad in Popular Science magazine and ordered a piece of equipment that could produce a single stamp in about an hour.
His Interest in new technology has resulted in the company growing into a 15,000 sq. ft facility in downtown Edmonton producing stamps and signs for a large group of loyal clients.
If you want to see some of their signage work, they have done all of the signage for MacEwan University’s Allard Hall (which is just down the street) and the new Grande Prairie Regional Hospital opening in Dec 4, 2021.
This huge stamp used to fit on the top of the Royal Stamp delivery car. It now hangs above the stairs.
We didn’t notice this stamp on the side of the building until we were leaving.
Last Word
Lesson learned, if you see something interesting in a shop window, don’t hesitate to go inside and see what else they might have. You never know what you might find.
FYI: I have a rubber stamp in my collection of stuff.It says “Poor Richard’s Rubber Stamp Shop.I am not kidding! I can’t remember where I found it, but I had to have it. And my corporate seal says “Union Landscaping LTD. Ontario Corporation. Perhaps I should get an “Everyday Tourist” stamp, for my blogs.
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