washington press toggle and bar

This is a plea to all those Washington Press owners out there. I am trying to reproduce the toggle and bar mechanism of these presses. Although I have found some good photos of this part I am unsure as to its size/dimensions. Would it be possible for someone to send me a high res photo close up of the toggle and the bar with a ruler placed near them so that I can get some size idea? Does anyone know if this mechanism has ever been drawn up for re-engineering purposes? if so how would I get a copy?
Any help would be great. thanks.
Ron

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Ron, if you will email me (link from Briar Press) the make and model of your press, with platen dimensions, and a photo to help with model identification, I can help by telling you, from the North American Hand Press Database, who has the same press and from whom you might be able to get measurements. Unfortunately, different manufacturers and their different models have different toggles, and the length and method of bearings are critical.

Bob

Let us know the make and size of the press. I’m sure someone here has the same press and would be glad to help.

Charles

I should explain, I don’t actually have a Washington press. I am in the process of making a hybrid common press from the Smithsonian plans. The idea is to use the frame and bed (with a metal table) and try to use the toggle mechanism from the Washington, so I am unable to provide any specificmodel number. Purist might argue that I am wasting my time but the object of the excercise is to have a custom built horizontal platen press I can make myself and that will be reasonably effective (it will be used mainly to print wood cuts and wood engravings) The final platten size will be approx.18.5”x12.25” Hope this has not been a bum steer.
Ron

Some years ago I designed such a press based on the Stansbury torsion toggle which would be much easier to make than the figure-4 and just about as strong. It would use a 10x15 C&P platen for the platen and a 14x22 C&P platen for the bed, with a wooden frame and steel I-beam head and winter. I never built it, though. If you use the Harris-Sisson plans you’ll need some way to reinforce the frame — the toggle mechanism is too strong for a wooden frame, as the early 19th C hand press builders found out.

Bob

Thanks Bob,
I had anticipated the need to beefup the frame. I’ll be attaching an I-beam head as you suggest and I have doubled up the under bed scantlings. In fact the uprights are also much heavier than the Sisson plans. I am not familiar with the Stanhope system but will have a look at it now. This is the kind of assistance I very much apreciate as it eliminates a lot of the trial and error in this project.
Ron