Golding Users Tell Me Why???

Sgt. Schultz, having never owned a Golding i know very little about them (that’s why we have John Falstrom) i’ve moved a few over the years but never run one, they seem to snap shut a little too quick for me, the smaller ones don’t have as much impressional strength, but the larger ones seem to be very solid. I’m a c&p guy, i’ve had a few over the years and like the 10x15 about the best, there are a lot around, although kluge presses have more ink rollers and their 12x18 is a great machine, lately i’m liking my kluge a lot, the craftsman press is like a beefed up c&p, but they aren’t as common. Of all the machines out there i’d say the Golding is the coolest looking press, it all depends on what you want to print, the 12x18 presses will give you a larger area and stronger impression, but a 10x15 c&p is pretty common and will do a lot of things and would be my choice for a hobby shop. Dick G.

Colonel Klink here. The lesser opening is intentional and designed to put the platen at a steeper angle which Golding determined was the optimal feeding angle. In addition to comfort, this steeper angle helps ensure with the help of gravity that the paper is against the gauges providing good registration. Dick, if it seemed to snap shut too quickly, it is possible the press was running backwards. On a Golding, if the flywheel is moving away while looking at the top of it, the press will open fast and shut slowly. If it is running toward you, it will open slowly and shut quickly. With this engineered in dwell, Golding claimed the jobber had more “open time” for feeding than his competition. (C&P and others) Your analogy of Ford vs Chevy is quite appropriate. Oh, and I prefer Saab.

JF

I have a Golding Pearl #11. What I really love about it is the “throw-off” mechanism (I think its called the “throw-off eccentric”) that allows you to prevent the platens from meeting/pressing. Pretty ingenious invention.

John, i always stayed away from Goldings, but have seen a few being run, way back in BC (before computers) there wasn’t much communication so if the flywheel was being run the wrong way who would know, i’m going to have a look at a couple of goldings, now you got me interested, the ones i saw running could have been run with the flywheel the wrong way. Dick G.

does anyone know what the little lever on the platen does? is that the throw off mechanism described (talking about the jobber series) or does the jobber have such a device?

Can a 7x11 or 8x12 handle wedding invitations?

Colonel Klink again,

The handy, easy to reach little lever to the left of the platen is the throw off lever. All Golding Jobbers have them somewhere. It is there right next to the platen, because it functions with the platen adjusting wedges. This unique platen adjustment system, by the way, is one of the nicest features of the Jobber. It is only found on the Golding Jobber line. Unlike most presses that just have four corner bolts that you work to level the platen, the Golding has those, but, in addition two other finger controlled knobs. Both are located on the right hand side of the platen. One at the bottom, and one at the top. You can turn these knobs with your fingers and move the entire bottom or top of the platen in or out. This is far easier to make simply adjustments when needed over the four corner bolts only press.

Yes, you can produce wedding invitations on either of those sizes. Another factor to consider is number of rollers the press has. Three is better than two because it can give better/more ink coverage per cycle.

JF

Hi John, How much of the chase gets the best impression on the Jobbers?

Jon,

I cannot tell you as I have yet to exceed the capability of my 8 x 12 with the largest work done being 5 x 7 wedding invitations. No matter what the design, amount of text etc, I had no problem obtaining good impression. I would say this is also true of the C & P’s as well. Size for size, I would consider them capable of similar work.

John, how do you know how much chase you can use, did you break down and get some ink???

DickG,

I said I got good impression. I didn’t say anything about ink!!!!

JF

I was taught to run the flywheel running toward me on the Golding Jobber No. 7, 10 x 15 I use. i.e. the slow open and quick close mentioned above. The close gives me just enough time to pick up the new sheet with my right hand. As soon as the platen opens enough I take out the printed sheet with my left hand and slide in the new sheet. The rest of the opening gives me enough time to make any adjustments needed. As the platen closes, I then neaten up the finished stack with my left hand and pick up the new sheet with my right.

If I ran the press with the quick open and the slow close, it seems I would be making any adjustments to the new sheet as the platen closes, rather than as it opens. As it is I know to take out my right hand as soon as the platen starts to close whether I’m ready or not. (The left hand would then grab for the throw off, if needed.) I don’t know that there would be a clear enough sign to take out my hand the other way. Of course, I run the motor at 1000 an hour so this whole sequence only takes about 3.6 seconds and I don’t want to have to do too much thinking in that amount of time.

The only other hand feed press I’ve used is a Golden Pearl No. 11 and I run that flywheel towards me as well. It would be interesting to try a C&P and see what is different.

Get a Kluge press with a Kluge feeder. As a jobber platen, you will never let go. One can effortlessly move the feeder out of the way and hand feed a Kluge as an open platen, or set the feeder, put the paper in, switch the power on and go have a cup of coffee. To me, for the craft printer, it is the zenith of engineering. It is a lot of press and the most under rated platen out there.
Bill Murray

The problem with hand feeding a Kluge is the grippers hold the sheet longer which gives you less time to get the printed sheet out and the next sheet in, i hand feed my kluge but i always try to remove the grippers first. Dick G.

Little Acorn,

Well…with all due respect to your teacher, you were taught incorrectly. All Golding flywheeled models, jobber and pearl were engineered to run with the flywheel running away from you. (push the top away from you to start the press). Goldings intention was to have the platen be fully open quickly so you have full access sooner and can remove the printed sheet and place the new sheet during the open dwell period, and then have it close slowly at a more controlled speed that didn’t take your hand with it. Obviously, you can run your presses how you see fit, but, you are running them backwards and not taking advantage of the carefully thought out engineering designed in by Golding who was a pretty smart fellow.

Vandy1905/DickG,

Never had the pleasure of running a Kluge, but, I have the impression they are a well engineered press.

JF

John, the Kluge has 4 form rollers with rider rollers on each set of two rollers, the rollers are a bear to get out, there is a special tool to put in or take out the rollers, there is also a set of two rollers that come from the fountain down the disc to help spread the ink. When the press is set up right you can take a nap (sorry) the thing will run till the paper is gone. Dick G. (4 am, no wonder you need that afternoon nap)

We print with a Pearl No. 1. It was a random find and we had never printed before we bought this press it has been a great first press. The 5x8 chase has given us fine prints on a 4x6 cards. Sometimes with custom line work made into a plate and other times the chase has been pretty full of handset type. We heed the warnings about deep impression that comes along with owning a Pearl, but we don’t let her get lazy either.

It is not like we just dug this out of some basement and it was printing. We have had to fabricate new pieces and re-weld others because we can not find replacements. I would say that should be a consideration when you are looking into your purchase.

Poke around my blog if you are interested in the capacity of a No. 1 www.pickleandthewhale.com

BTW: We are still looking for a replacement ink disc holder for a Golding Pearl No. 1

Pilgrimpress-

I had an improved pearl #11 (7x11 chase with throw off), pearl #14 (9x14 chase with throw off) and I now have an old style c&p (8x12 chase with throw off). I have a couple of comments to add.

Things I liked about the pearl:
-small floor area required
-the #11 was an excellent first press as it was small and unintimidating and produced decent work
-I would pick it over a pilot for sure as I can’t imagine not having a treadle
-the pearls I’ve seen seemed to be more hobby type presses and haven’t had the wear and tear that the C&P’s I’ve seen

Things I did not like about the pearl:
-the #11 was a better size for me - I am 5’-5” tall and the #14 feed boards pushed me so far away I never felt like I could see for paper feeding
-the #11 was really too small for moderate impression on A7 invitations and I felt I was unfairly taxing the press

so I “upgraded” to my c&p OS 8x12

Things I like about the c&p:
-moderate impression - no problem
-it’s a comfortable height for feeding for me
-it feels really substantial and capable - I never feel like I’m taxing the press, though I would consider my impression style moderate at most
-very inexpensive and easy to locate

Things I don’t like about the c&p:
-it is considerably larger than the #11 for a similar chase size
-I still treadle and it does take a bit more effort - though I only notice it on longer runs
-although mine had no symptoms of excessive use (ie wiggly platen, etc.) I cannot even begin to tell you how much tape is on my rails! You can physically see the wear on them. Many c&p’s I looked at were even worse - they seemed to be production machines and were used hard - it would be great if you could find one that was a cream puff!

Hope that helps, just my observations and opinions after printing on both over the past few years. I sold the pearls and while I do not miss the #14, I really miss the #11 and would buy one again if given the chance. I don’t miss it enough to give up the c&p however…

Leslie

Leslie,

Wonderful, insightful post. If I may, you need to find yourself a Golding Jobber No. 6 which is the more competing model to the 8 x 12 C & P. I think you would be in love. It’s about the same physical size and takes just a little more floor space(because of larger flywheel) as the Pearl No. 11, but, has an 8 x 12 chase with much more impression power, treadles like a dream, and adjusts easier than any press out there. Here is a photo showing both side by side. The Jobber is closer to you than the Pearl so actually looks larger than it is. It is definitely smaller than the Pearl No. 14

JF

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John, thanks for posting these pics. I would love to have one!

Have a Jobber No 6 Golding. It has been under wraps for some 25 years or so recently oiled and greased her up,
She runs like a dream. Thinking of doing ditto to myself.
Another 25 years would do me lovely. Think I have sourced
A treadle. Make my mind up time motorised or treadle.
The motor is still running fine after all those years, but
Takes away its good looks I think.
Best Regards to you all
Ted the Printer

I have a Golding Jobber No 6 SerialNo 2261 with guard
Which never falls asleep on the job or goes for a tea break
Have acquired a treadle but it appears I need a crank to
Go on the shaft, have Hook and bar. Am I right, if so are they available.
Best Regards to one and all
Ted the Printer or non Printer at the moment
Time is not on my side.

What I call the hook clamps directly onto the offset part of the shaft in my Jobber.

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