A few questions for you guys.

I’m really interested in the C&P old style letterpress photographed. I have a few questions.

1. It’s on two planks of wood seen in the photo, what is the best way to get it onto a skid except using a forklift?

2. Is there anything I should ask the seller (anything you guys see that looks “off”). I was told it was fine, but i’d like your input.

3. And finally, I could probably ask him, but what size is it? (if you can tell by just looking at it)

I’ve been advised the chase is there, if anyone asks, because its not clear in the photo.

image: 7523g17_20.jpeg

7523g17_20.jpeg

Log in to reply   21 replies so far

My first question is how are you transporting it to its new location? Some people move these using several pieces of black iron pipe and roll the press over them utilizing the wood slats that it is sitting on. Is it the height you want it to be? I put mine on 4x6 rails, giving it more stability and raising it up a tad. You can cut notches out of the 4x6’s to accommodate a floor jack. I also extended the 4x6’s toward the back, these presses tend to tip that way.

Ask if they know of any breaks or welds, extra rollers, chases etc. Also, this is an Old Style, is the treadle anywhere around? It has been converted to use a motor.

I am guessing an 8x12 by the picture. The Serial number should be in the upper left corner of the bed, then we can tell exactly what year and size it is.

Dennis

Thanks for your fast reply, Dennis. I think I can roll it onto some iron pipe. My big questions is how do you even lift it onto the pipe?! Just lift it the front end (two guys)? Then do the back end?
At this individuals warehouse they do not own a Forklift and renting on it a bit of a hassle.

I will be putting it in a truck, with a lift gate and renting a pump truck (pallet truck)

I will ask, that’s great information, thanks.

Seller wants 1.5K cdn, seems a little on the high end from what I’ve seen around here. Everything is always more expensive in Canada.

to find out the size measure the inside of the chase, also like Dennis says these presses want to tip, to minimise this close the press and tie it shut, this puts the weight more to the center.

It may be a good press, and it might be great for you, but it’s not a C&P (old series or new series). You can tell because there is no rocker lock under the delivery board. Also, I don’t see any cam on the inside of the right hand gear in the picture, to rotate the rocker and platen.

I am in Canada too. Where are you located?

Geoffrey’s right, not a C&P, got my curiosity up now. Do not see anything similar in the museum!

Hmm, interesting. Now, it’s tough to even put a price on it, Geoffrey, I live in Mississauga, Ontario.

You guys are awesome. Now, i’m not really sure what to do lol.

Dennis, earlier you were basically saying, get the iron pipe and lift the front end of the press onto the pipe?

I believe it is a peerless press, gordan style. If you look in the back of the press where the roller arms connect you can see LESS. It can handle a treadle. See post http://www.briarpress.org/28828 for more pictures.
It’s probably a small press 7x11 is my guess. A very good press, but not as strong as a C&P.

Juice Box, I am between Brantford and Cambridge, not too far from you. Where is the press…..is it nearby as well? If it is relatively close, and you want me to, I am willing to go with you and give you my opinion if we can arrange it. I bought my first letterpress in 1963 so have a few years experience.

Good going, Girl with a kluge! Looks like you ID’d it.

Wow, thanks, Girl with a kluge!
Geoffrey, the press is in Markham so it would be a good drive for you. Maybe we can swap emails/facebook?
What is the street value of a Peerless press? And what do you mean “not as strong” weak impressions or as a work horse?

Field palletization: you can carefully lever, or jack the front of the press up and put a 4x4 under the front of the slats. Make sure someone strong is behind the press, helping balance it to keep it from tipping over backwards. Screw the slats to the 4x4s, then do the same with the rear, making sure the 4x4s are far enough apart to get a pallet jack under the skids.

Presto, you have a very basic pallet - although it would be preferable if the pallet jack approach was from the front or back, rather than the sides.

Juice Box, when I clicked on your name I didn’t see a link to contact you by email yet. However, if you click on my name, you should be able to email me. If you want to go ahead and do that, I will help you any way I can.

If you go look at this press, inspect every inch of it and make sure there aren’t any cracks, breaks or welds. If you see anything suspicious, take a picture of it and post it here so we can render an opinion. Hopefully the press won’t be tight or seized, so you can run it through a few cycles and see if it runs smoothly. If it hasn’t been oiled in a long time, that could of course have a bearing on how well it moves. If it appears to be really tight from lack of oil, you don’t want to move it too much so you don’t hurt the bearing surfaces. Also, check to see whether or not it looks like it is missing any parts. I would especially check to be sure all the parts are there which cause the ink disc to rotate with every cycle of the press (on this particluar press, from the pictures, it looks like this mechanism might be more complicated than that of a C&P). Also, the gripper bars should be there and should go up and down on the platen with each cycle of the press (they can be replaced, but it is nice to have them).

Measure the inside dimensions of the chase to determine the exact size of the press.

What are you planning to use the press for? That would have a bearing on whether you should buy this particular press or not.

The price does seem high to me. You of course don’t want to madden the seller, but maybe you could get a feel for whether they will come down or not.

Remember too, that this is a rare press, so if you need parts down the road, it will be much harder to find them than if you had a C&P. However, if the press is in reasonably good shape, and you don’t overstress it, and you keep it well lubricated, you shouldn’t need any parts for many years, if ever. (If you ever did need replacement parts, you might be able to get the old ones fixed, or you could get them made from scratch, but that could range in price from cheap to very expensive).

Just some thoughts….

Thanks for the insight Geoffrey. I sent you an email through the the sites contact page. Let me know if you got it. The site had a hiccup when I tried to send it.

I’ll be using the press for business cards to larger paper bags. I did try to lower the price and the seller was interestered, partly because they think it’s an “old style” he advised if was a newer style he would consider lowering the price. He must assume he has a CP. If a seller doesn’t know what they that worries me.

be very careful with a truck with a liftgate, they can tip a little causing the press to fall over, my favorite move is to use a car carrier with a bed that lowers to the ground. we just moved a 12x18 golden this way and a intertype without any problems.

Check out “girl with a Kluge” link to pictures and see the construction of how it is mounted, this is nice and stable and would allow for a pallet jack from the front or back.

I recently moved a 8x12 C&P that I had on a solid pallet, I tilted it and shoved a construction/moving dolly under it and rolled it up a ramp right on to the truck. It took three of us to do it.

Juice Box,

This press (and the rest of the shop) has been posted online for sale for months (I first saw it in the summer of 2011). When it was first listed I called the seller to ask a few questions (more interested in the type and perhaps the proof press they were selling). I got the distinct impression (groan) they thought they’d get top dollar for everything ($700 for a manual inking, tabletop proof press with no registration system?…eek).

In any event, I echo the reservations others have stated. If it is in good operating condition, etc., it might be worth a roll of the dice (and hoping nothing goes wrong in the future vis a vis parts, etc.), but…I’d try and get them down in price.

If you do go, please let us know what the state of the other stuff is! :)

Good luck,
Matthew

Thanks dickg, I’ll try to find the safest way to move any press I purchase. Good to get insight like this from the pros like yourself.

Dennis, I think that’s the best way to go..just tilt and make my own skid of sorts. I guess i assumed the press would be ridiculously heavy that tilting was out of the question, now I know it’s easy than I thought.

Matt, I spoke with the seller twice, you’re right about the groans. I did ask if we can work on the price, he was pretty firm on not budging at all, he’s firm on 1500.00.

I think I’m going to wait and source out another floor model.

Thanks to everyone for their help, I really appreciate it. Everyone has been super nice and amazing.

To lever up the press to get rollers or 4x4s underneath, you can carefully jack up one end of the press at a time, as mentioned above. But it’s easier and safer, IMO, to buy or rent a johnson bar and lift the end of each current skid.

http://www.monumentalelevatorsupply.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEntity&...

To lever up the press to get rollers or 4x4s underneath, you can carefully jack up one end of the press at a time, as mentioned above. But it’s easier and safer, IMO, to buy or rent a johnson bar and lift the end of each current skid.

http://www.monumentalelevatorsupply.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=showEntity&...

you should take alook at our press. its cheaper and in real good shape. Very smooth operation.

as “Girl with a kluge” referanced earlier in the post,
See post http://www.briarpress.org/28828 for more pictures

Hello

You might want to read
from Excelsior Press
how to move a press safely

lets see if this will work
try
//excelsiorpress.org/reference_html/movingapresssafely.html

yours truly
Mac