Golding or C&P??
After all my research I think the perfect press for me would be the Golding Pearl No. 3, but I think I would take just about any Golding Pearl I can find. But finding one in Texas is next to impossible. I did find a printer who closed his letterpress department years ago he has a Chandler & Price – 10x15, Two Miehle Vertical – Auto-fed Printing Press and two Vandercook proof presses. Plus a Ludlo, two Intertype - Linotype machines. Not to mention furniture, lock-up tables, and over 100 type faces. The C&P or the Vandercook are tempting, should I take the plung or wait for the Golding that would fit in a spare room?
Get the C&P if you like Platen Presses, you will be thankful later. What sizes are the Vandercooks?
For cards etc. A Platen press is better.
Vandercooks
Model UN-1 & Model 3
I’ve read so many good things about the C&P and they seem much easier to find and repair but I’m afraid moving it will be a problem. It might be better in the garage rather than a back bedroom. What does a press of this size weigh?
The 8 x 12 C&P is fairly portable and more robust than the Pearl Old Styles (not sure about the rest of the Pearl line).
Probably the best thing to do is try to land some press time at another persons shop. If you’ve the budget for it, a Vandy is a very nice piece of equipment, but for a rank beginner, I would send you back to that C&P. If you have the opportunity, that shop that’s been closed out has all manner of possibility written about it, but it’s real easy to get too much machinery to properly care for and get burnout.
An 8 x12 C&P is about 1000 lbs, the 10 x 15 upwards of 1500 lbs—about the limit of what will stuff into a spare room. If you are working in a converted garage or similiar, then the sky is the limit. But again, it’s more a question of what you want to do with this avocation. Also remember that the press is the culmination of the printing process, with a lot more effort and time to be spent in composition, especially if you are using traditional metal typography (vs photopolymer).
Hi Theresa,
It’s me, the Golding nut! This comparison is really not easy because they are not built for the same thing. It’s like asking if you should get a VW beetle convertible or an F150 truck. A 10 x 15 C&P should be compared to a 10 x 15 Golding Jobber. The little Pearl OS No. 3 or Improved Pearl No. 11 are more appropriate to compare with a C & P Pilot than the floor models. They are lightly built, easier to get into a home or apartment but cannot create the impression strength or size work that either 10 x 15 is capable of. A 10 x15 of either make is a large heavy press. You don’t mention in your post if you visited the print shop with all the equipment. If you have not done so, go take a look in person to understand the size of the equipment.
I ran an engraving company a few years ago and fell in love with the classic printing process. I really didn’t give letterpress much thought at the time, but when I discovered it I was hooked. The equipment we had was massive requiring a rigging company to move and set up. I was afraid the C&P would be comparable to those presses in weight. I’m waiting to hear back from the press shop on what they want for the C&P and the Vandercooks, if the money is right they all might make a good little investment.
You’re so right about getting more than I can handle and to be honest all three are way over my head right now. So my heart and skill level are still set on the small Golding but finding one in Texas is not possible, this may be my best chance at getting a platen press.
I bought a tiny little Kelsey 3x5 and when it arrived I about fell over, it looked like a toy. I then considered a C&P table top but gosh it cost just as much as the big presses. I found the Golding and watched a lot of letterpress vidoes on Youtube and thought the size was just what I was looking for. Sounds like Goldey Locks and the Three Presses LOL.
Thank you so much for your help!!!
Move over 1966 GTO, looks like you may have a new roommate!!!