What’s this press?

Hello,
can anyone identify this press, please?

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/3365/bohs.jpg

It’s not a typographic press but I hope any veteran here will recognoize it.

Thanks!
Fabio

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Fabio, it looks like an engraving press. Friedrich Heim in Offenbach mainly produced these.
Max

Hello Max,
thanks for the reply.

I can’t find the website of the Friedrich Heim in Offenbach to ask for a manual!

Thanks,
Fabio

It’s Fabio again with questions. Friedrich Heim is not making equipment anymore, but you might find information with the Haus der Industrie in Darmstadt, or the German Museum. Some digging around doesn’t do any harm! It’s definitely not a printing press, but most likely a foiling press, you should know yourself, because I reckon you took the picture yourself in a bookbinders workshop.

Although I’ve never seen one like that it does look like an engraving press, judging by the wipeout paper. We have several Kronites and a Carver and they all have similar paper rolls and die heads and impression control wheel.

@ thomas gravemaker:
the only thing I’ve found is this page, that doesn’t say anything:
http://www.deutsches-museum.de/archiv/bestaende/firmenschriften/f/

If it’s a foiling press, why ther are paper rolls?

@ RREEBB:

On Kronites and Carver paper rolls are used for..?

Thanks!
Fabio

A left-field suggestion - is it originally a press for producing music disks? - With a system for supplying the central labels from a roll?

Friedrich Heim & Co, from Offenbach am Main, in Germany started trading in 1821. They specialized in foiling presses and ‘Stahlstich-Prägepressen’, embossing presses. The company did close and the buildings have been pulled down. I noticed that the machine has a small plate with the name of the importer in Italy on it, somewhere in Milan. Try finding out if that company still exists and work in that direction. Where is this machine situated, can’t the present owner supply you with more information?

Neroinferno;
Without getting too mechanical a die used for engraving has letters that are etched into it. The letters need ink forced into them. When the die is inked by a roller the entire surface of the die picks up ink. The paper acts like a squeegie to eliminate the excess ink. I hope that helps you to understand basically why the paper is needed. Ron

@thomas gravemaker:
hello Thomas,
I’ll try to contact the seller in Italy but shouldn’t exist anymore.

The old owner unlucky died and with him gone all the info about that press/machine :\

@RREEBB:
Okay perfectly explained! thanks.