Tabletop Hoe acorn iron handpress
We love it when other iron handpresses come to Lead Graffiti to visit our iron handpresses.
We had never seen either a Hoe acorn press nor a tabletop acorn.
No serial number. Just says R. Hoe New York.
Anyone have any idea for a date or information? I’ve looked through our books on iron handpresses and couldn’t find anything about them. The Museum of Printing lists one with a platen size of 13” x 16.5”. I’m trying to get the size of this one, but I feel like it is a bit smaller than that.
tabletop-hoe-acorn.jpg
I believe this is called a “hat-tip” press, perhaps because of the bar action, or because it was intended to print small pieces like hat labels. The press with a 13x16.5” platen is a “Stansbury” with a three-rod torsion toggle, invented by Isaac or Seth Adams and acquired by Hoe from them. It also has an acorn frame. There are a number around. I think there is a catalog illustration of one in Sterne’s book.
It’s great to see something rare and new turn up. I do not have this press recorded in the North American Hand Press Database and I need to add it. Please email me the contact info of the owner and platen and bed dimensions.
Bob Oldham
This is a blocking press. There is already a thread here with a lot of information about this press. It was put in the Discussion section on 21 Nov 08 and the title of the query was “R. Hoe & Co. NY press”
I have a Washington-style version of this type of press at home.
Rick
This doesn’t appear to have the heating apparatus that a blocking press would require. I have a blocking press produced by Krause which has an upside-down acorn shape, but it has the upper platen heated by gas jets (which I am converting to cartridge heaters right now).
This appears to be a press designed for printing with ink and not for embossing, stamping, or “blocking”.
J Henry
No blocking press I have seen had a frisket as does this acorn. Blocking presses were often used for book covers where a frisket would be useless, and had considerable adjustment for thickness. And all had a source of heat, whether gas as jhenry mentions, or earlier “arming” presses had holes for heated irons.
I could not find the discussion Rick referenced. Any better way than by wading through hundreds of irrelevant topics?
Rick, could you please send me a snapshot of the similar Washington-style press you have?
Bob
I hadn’t realized the owner had put his own note online when I started this one. Here is the link to that entry.
http://www.briarpress.org/14954
New information says that the press is 7” x 9” and the tympan / frisket seems to be original.
Hi Bob,
I don’t have a photo of my Washington-style blocking press but I will try to get one for you.
Note that these press have a single tappered dowel-type toggle to apply the pressure. I ‘think’ these are made of wood! Mine is, but it is a replacement piece. Can someone check that out and confirm if they were metal or wood?
Rick
Judging from the look of the lower toggle rod on the acorn in the photos I would say it is metal. I would be very surprised at a wooden original toggle part on a press like this. Does your press have a serial number anywhere on it, Rick?
Bob
Hi Bob,
No serial number anywhere on my press. The only name cast onto the head is W.S. ROWLAND, NY
Rick
Hi Bob,
No serial number anywhere on my press. The only name cast onto the head is W.S. ROWLAND, NY
Rick