Press Update

 Starting Point

 A Couple of Printers!!

Beautiful colour. Just like a new one

 The platen cleaned but unpainted. No obvious smashes or dings

 Frame painted

 Parts ready for paint

Platen face and Bed below

It used to look rough and pretty scrappy but not anymore! Howard has been busy stripping the press down to the frame and cleaning and painting. We got together a week ago and had a look at what could be done to finish it off. It doesnt have any rollers, just an old one and a couple of trucks. Luckily it looks like it will take Chandler and Price rollers and running gear. Also missing is the frisket bar mechanism (gripper bar if you are American!

The mystery still remains over what this press actually is -a Samson or a New Champion. Regardless, its not far off working now. Notice in the photographs some nice pinstriping on some parts. Deep down in the grime my Chandler and Price had a little striping once!

Interesting Project

As it is now!

An old friend, Howard, rang the other day to tell me of an interesting project he's working on for a local steam museum. The idea is to get an old platen press (donation) restored so that letterpress can be demonstrated to visitors with perhaps a little hands on activity that could be done by visitors. Its a very solid old press from the 19th century, but it has no makers ID at all. My guess is that many makers simply copied each other to capture a slice of the market. It is a clamshell design, and after a bit of research I think it may be a "New Champion". I have posted here a few old ads and a current photograph taken by Howard. it will look quite striking when completed and it looks pretty solid with three roller coverage. The rollers will be the tough part. Sourcing dimensions will be tricky. So have a good look and if you have one or know someone who does, we would love to hear from you. the blue colour looks just great.

A lovely engraving and Advertisement showing a slightly different press

It could be this little rocket!