What is the Make/Model/Year of this platen press?

visualchemist
on 10 Mar 13 (00:52)

I picked this press up today. Pretty excited about this little gem. I’m not really sure where it falls on the timeline and who is the maker of this press but here are some neat little factoids about it:

–Lobe/counterweight on flywheel
–Holes in flywheel spokes (There are welds in all spokes)
–There actually is a trip/brake level which is currently broken off (handle sitting on feedboard)
–Rear vertical support is attached to the inside of the base, rather than on the outside
–Chase size is 7x11
–Back nameplate is blank. No ID listed

I’m hoping to fix up this fixer upper. Would be helpful to know what it is exactly. I want to add a treadle to it but not really sure how to identify this press.

My best guess is that it is a Frankenstein that was put together when the Gordon patents expired? Possibly a Gordon OS 7x11 (c 1860-70)?

Would appreciate any clarifications and confirmations.

Thanks!

Lobe and holes in flywheel spokes. There is a trip/brake, but it is currently broken and will need to be welded. (Sitting on top of feedboard.)

Rear vertical support is attached to the inside of the base, rather than on the outside.

Chase size is 7x11.

Back nameplate is blank.

visualchemist
on 10 Mar 13 (01:32)

Aha, so it looks like there are 2 other threads on this same press.

http://www.briarpress.org/33108
http://www.briarpress.org/33172

Going with the consensus, I’ll call it a Shniedewend & Lee Gordon Old Style 7x11.

That said, anyone have any idea when it’s birth year might be?

Also, if I were to search for a treadle, would a more common treadle made for a C&P 8x12 work for this thing?

Devils Tail Press
on 10 Mar 13 (07:09)

It is most likely a George P. Gordon press. They had a more delicate castings. Note that the supporting legs of the bed assembly are mounted inside of the frame. All of the other presses mentioned are connected to the outside of the frame. Most of the illustrations of G. P. Gordon presses are distinct in that the bed assembly is mounted this way. It looks like a very early press judging by the light castings, probably late 1860s.

Paul

visualchemist
on 10 Mar 13 (21:38)

Paul,

Looking forward to diving deeper into the history of this press and getting it up and running. Thanks for chiming in and confirming!

Cat

Devils Tail Press
on 10 Mar 13 (23:39)

As I recall the G. P. Gordon presses had a brass nameplate on the connecting plate on the back of the press. You might look closely and see if there are any screw or rivet holes there. The press might have been sold with no nameplate to a supplier that wished to sell it as a product of their company, as so many companies did in those days. The circular support on the legs of the bed is the real identifying feature. I’m not sure I’ve even seen that on a platen press before.

Paul