Frederick Ullmer platen… please help before I buy!
Dear Briarpressers,
I have recently come across this press for sale, and before I commit to buying it, I would be really grateful if anyone could help me with some advice on the condition, any info about the model etc…
I probably won’t be able to inspect the press in person as it is quite a long way away, so am hoping that if it looks decent enough from the pictures that I can make a confident purchase from afar! But as I am by no means an expert I would love some help to determine whether or not it looks like a decent buy.
Seller says it appears to have all its parts and rotates freely - it looks to me like it would need new rollers though? Can anyone tell me if the chase is missing, I am not sure…?
Lastly, does anyone know what size platen this press would be? It is marked as a ‘Frederick Ullmer’. If there was a serial number, does anyone know where would be the likely place to look for it?
The price they are asking is reasonable, so I guess I would just like an idea as to whether it looks (from the pics) to have all its parts and be operable… or whether it would be better to steer clear!
Thanks so much in advance for the help.
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Frederick Ullmer was a London-based manufacturer of printing presses. If I’m not completely mistaken, they also built Albion presses. This press looks to be in good enough condition to buy and to restore our clean up. I don’t see a chase, but that is not too big a problem. Rollers are they, but have to be recovered. With muscle power you can make this press look perfect again. It reminds me of the Arab press, a very similar construction. Have a look here: http://letterpressprinting.com.au/page92.htm
and here:
http://readingtype.org.uk/wwp/arab.html
St Bride Library in London will probably have information on Frederick Ullmer.
Good luck.
Thanks so much for your help Thomas, I really appreciate it! I am tipping the chase will be lying around somewhere so can hopefully track that down, and getting the rollers recovered is not a big deal.
I had a quick look at those links too, thanks!
Does anyone have any idea what size the platen might be on this press??
It looks like a demi-foolscap to me.
Find the chase and measure the inside dimensions for the press size. If not available, you can also try measuring the bed dimensions and subtract the approximate size of the chase, usually 1.5 inches per side.
Check the saddles for extreme wear, as well as the platen for any looseness or motion when on impression.
The press is Ullmer’s take on the Cropper which itself is the UK version of the Gordon in the US. Ullmers made Albions and appeared to manufacture everything. The only thing that seems to be missing is the treadle which someone appears to have made out of wood. Dont pay too much for this as treadles are not uncommon and can often just cost the moving price. I would date it 1890 - 1900. Jez.
I know you have a pic of the press but it is always wise to inspect or have inspected a press before purchase. Sometimes the vendor will not know what you’re talking about or wont have seen any damage or breaks……
It looks like it may have a two piece ink disc, and if it does, it looks like it may be missing one or two gears under the ink disc, which make the two pieces of the disc counter-rotate. These gears are often missing from presses.
Also, it looks like it had an ink fountain at one time, since the brackets for the fountain are above the ink disc.
Neither of these things is much of a problem, but if you can find these parts, the press will be that much better in use.
Thanks so much for all your help, it’s great! I will bear all this in mind.
Does anyone know what size “demi-foolscap” is in inches? I googled it but am still not sure what size it actually is.
Thanks again for all the assistance!