First Press, First Problems
Hi again :)
I purchased a Golding Official No. 4 (I think, more on that in a second) through the classifieds here. It arrived today at 5:30am (don’t ask) and I just got home from work and uncrated it. Let me just say I have never printed anything on a press like this…or any press. I like to jump in head first I guess.
First observations…
1. The platen won’t close all of the way. I mean, it is still open a few inches and I just can’t see why. I don’t want to force it. See pic 1.
2. It looks like a part is broken off maybe? If so is it essential? See pic 2.
3. I’m not sure if this is a No. 4 (6x9) because I’m not sure where exactly to measure. The platen, where the chase goes? The platen measures 6.75x9.75 so I assume 6x9 is correct. I don’t want to order rollers and a chase if it’s not.
Thanks for any help :)
Ashley
Pic 1
Pic 2
Sorry, the pictures are reversed.
See the following schematic….
www.garloo.com/chandler_and_price_diagram.htm
The area BEHIND the chase is the BED. The PLATEN is where the tympan paper and packing and gauge pins are placed to enable feeding the stock.
GOOD LUCK!!!
Thanks. I guess the choice of wording was funny. I meant, do I measure the platen or where the chase goes (i.e. bed)?
It’s all just confusing to me now. When a press is described as 6x9 do they mean the inner measurements of the chase is 6x9 or the entire chase bed? It never really occured to me to think about it like that and well, that makes a huge difference!
The press size is based on the dimensions of the inside of the chase. So if those dimensions are 6” and 9” your press is a 6 x 9.
In the top photo it looks like the lower bail is broken off. The bail is the flat piece of metal attched to the platen anound its edge and is used to hold the topsheet to the platen. There should be one at the top edge of the platen and one opposite it at the bottom. It looks like just the stub of the bottom one is still capured by its retaining screw, and that stub is from an earlier replacement since the top bail looks original and the stub is a different width.
This is a reasonably easy part to fabricate yourself with some steel bar from Home Depot or hardware store. But it’s better to match the original as closely as possible so if you need to buy a bar from an industrial supply house to get one the same width and thickness I wouold do it. The bar can be bent in a vice and the holes drilled with a hand-held electric drill. Just use the original one that remains as a guide.
I’m not sure it’s possible to troubleshoot the other problem without several more photos of the press from different angles that show more of it. Nothing in the photo you posted looks out of place but something may be hanging up on a number of different areas that aren’t visible. So please post some more photos.
Rich
Front Room Press
Milford, NJ
http://frontroompress.com
http://frontroompress.blogspot.com
Thanks Rich. The lower bail is there, that’s why I’m confused. I know it doesn’t look like it in the picture but the lower one is there and there is also that extra piece, like there was something else along with it. I have no idea what it could have been though. As far as I’m concerned that problem is solved!
I just looked at it again and I can see why it won’t close but I just have no idea how it could have ever gotten the way it is. Someone had to have done it on purpose so I’ll see if I can fix it. I’ll have to get pics tomorrow!
It could be that a repair was already made and the bail or bail screw was replaced. If the screw was too long, a shim may have been easier than shortening the screw. Just a guess.
As to the other problem, check with this guy.
Mike A via his email: golding-guru (at) SBCGLOBAL.NET and his website is http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/golding-guru
I fixed it and can now close it :) Now time to find a chase.