Westman & Baker Press
Just found a Westman & Baker press in Cobourg, Ont. looks like an 8 x 12, see pictures. It is minus the flywheel and has a broken gear under the ink platen, however, this is a significant press, being produced in Canada (I believe Westman & Baker history was covered in a story in the “Devil’s Artisan”).
It has the often miss-placed foot treadle and several chases. No roller cores but that should not be an issue, the flywheel could probably be taken off of a Chandler.
It is outside, with a two-year coat of rust, at Legacy Building Supply (905-373-0796, ask for Doug Watt). They have a fork truck for loading. (I have no connection with this company, however this is a great press, will look great in your shop, and it is Canadian).
Dan
Press 1.jpg
Press 2.jpg
Press 3.jpg
Press 4.jpg
In the last picture, there is a cogged wheel sitting unattached on a rusty shaft. What is that cogged wheel for?
And,…. Don Black has a refurbished W&B press like this one for about $1500.
The press has a split ink disk and that “cogged wheel” is the lower gear that would drive the inner disk, if it were in place.
Oh yes, of course, thanks!
I think the press could be had for about $250, they know it is missing parts (flywheel).
The split ink disk is a nice feature, at least the gear is there, a new centre pin will have to be fitted for the feature to work. My Chandler was missing the gear so I made one by creating a silicone pattern from the underside of the ink disk and cast it in epoxy.
I would get the press with as little dismantling as possible and make it work!
Dan
Personally I think $250 for that press is highway robbery. If you’re diligent you can get a C&P 8x12 in good, working condition for between $300 and $600. There are a couple right now on Ebay in that range. Insome cases you can get them for free. I’m not sure dealer prices are the best guide as to pricing and value.
It’s probably worth fixing up and I don’t shrink from restoration projects in any way. But I’d need to get something in that condition for almost nothing to make it worth my while to invest the amount of time and effort it will take to do it. They ought to pay you something for cleaning up their yard.
Rich
Front Room Press
Milford, NJ
http://frontroompress.com
http://frontroompress.blogspot.com
The $250 would seem fairly reasonable to me if I were a Canadian wanting to preserve a piece of national culture. C&Ps are basically commonplace, whereas the W&M appears to be a lot rarer.
I wouldn’t disagree with you, and I can’t speak to the rarity of the press. To me it seems that except for the maker it looks like a fairly standard Gordon clone. In the end it’s a question of what one can afford and is willing to pay for.
Rich
Front Room Press
Milford, NJ
http://frontroompress.com
http://frontroompress.blogspot.com
I like where they mounted the impression lever. Looks like a less fragile / less likely to jam into the flywheel design. Then again, where are you going to get a flywheel for this?
The only reason to get this press is the Canadian connection, and as was stated above, one of those free C & P’s could donate it’s flywheel. The original flywheel apparently ended up in a museum to complete their press.
Yes, I like the impression lever location as well, more convenient than my C & P, which also has the steam pulley lever on that side, so there are several elbow and shin obstructions.
Dan
I just learned of this press, but alas am too late. The Legacy Vintage folks had it cut up and scrapped two months ago. Ouch. I have a W&B that needs an ink disk, treadle parts and possibly the platen. I’m a novice, but my guess is this is a 12 x 18 inch press. Can anyone out there help me? I’m in Kennewick, WA.
This is a follow to my earlier comment/request. The Westman and Baker press I have is a 10x15. I need an ink disk 16 inches in diameter with a shaft diameter of 1 7/8 inches. I also need the treadle hook and pedal and would like to have another platen. Mine has welding on it. The platen size is 12x18 ilnches. Does anyone know if C&P parts would fit?