Wooden Press

The press is being advertised as ‘antique’. Something is antique when it’s over 100 years old. How long has plywood been around? I doubt very much if this press is antique at all… I would call it ‘old’.

Thomas,
Plywood has been in use since the Victorian times. There is reference to the egyptians making something ply like on the net.
The earliest I see this press being is 1920s, its possible the plywood has replaced original.
The earliest Adana flatbeds look like this so we’re going back to the 1920s and nearly 100 years ago.
Whilst I agree with you on the definition of antique the press is still a curiosity worthy of comment rather than criticism.

I think its some form of adana hybrid - indeed in a 1930s copy of practical mechanics there are plans for building a press of this type.

Being all wood I am guessing it is a flower press, too much pressure and something will break. Probably why the lever support is missing for the near side.