Date my Pilot

I recently acquired this press.

Can someone help me date my Pilot, NS? It says 205A on the main body, but I noticed that there are other serial numbers stamped into the press. What year was this one made or where can I go to find that info?

Also, I’ve seen other Pilots that actually say “Pilot.” Is this a true Pilot? It definitely is a C&P. Can someone please verify this press?

Thanks!
cat

image: PilotNS_2.jpg

PilotNS_2.jpg

image: PilotNS_1.jpg

PilotNS_1.jpg

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If you take off the chase is their a serial number stamped in the bed? Looking at this press I have a feeling it starts with a P.

Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

Yes it is certainly a ‘real’ Pilot. As best I can tell C&P stopped stamping PILOT into the rear yoke in the early 1900s. On some later press there was a metal badge affixed to the front yoke that read:

CHANDLER & PRICE
PILOT PRESS
CLEVELAND, OHIO, 3

Those are part numbers that you are seeing on the press—not serial numbers. If you look online you should be able to download an old parts catalog that gives the name of everything with the numbers you are seeing.

I don’t think there are any records of when certain Pilots were manufactured, but this is certainly a new style Pilot… so anywhere in the second half of the 20th century would be a very rough ballpark.

Hope that helps,
Brad.

Daniel,

There IS a number, but the number isn’t on the chase bed. It’s on the outer/upper part of the frame of the chase bed… P2301. From what Brad says, this sounds like it’s a part number, correct?

The closest part number I found in the C&P Pilot parts manual is 230(1) and its for the Chase Hook.

Am I not looking hard enough?

-cat

Hey Brad,

Thanks for the info!

“Anywhere in the second half of the 20th century,” but before the later presses were affixed with a metal badge is a great ballpark.

Now if only I can figure out what year/decade they started affixing those badges.

=P,
cat