Dimensions

When scouring the web for potential build plans for any letterpress machine, I come back with just another bottle press machine. Yet I do not want to build that style of press. I am looking to see if anyone has the actual dimensions to say, a Kelsey Letterpress ADANA EIGHT FIVE

If anyone out there, would mind say, to measure the press, and post them. I would be greatly thankful.

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Yes, technically you could build a press of Adana or Kelsey type… but you’d need pretty well organised and well equipped engineering workshops, foundries etc… What you will want will depend a lot on what you want to print. One-off posters? Thousands of flyers? Deep impression wedding invitations? Gold foiled business cards? With very few exceptions rather than starting from scratch you’ll find it cheaper and more effective to buy a second hand press or presses of the type you need - even if it means shipping it from a distance. Have you thought of attending an introductory printing course?

Look up, on the Web, Adana Flat Bed Quarto, several references, generally, the first video clip that comes up, shows one in use, O.K. he blew it and got his first pull skewed.
As a starting point, for a first *Toe in the Water* for very little outlay, good boost up the learning curve, and then on up,!!!
If You are lucky even the Roller/Rollers can be plagiarized from elsewhere.!!!

O.K. Humble starting point, One such in use, on an almost daily basis, in Our Museum Print Shop, with a standing forme up, and the Kids print their own Certificate/Name etc. The adults *Ditto* on a rebuilt *Common Press* or a *Columbian Eagle*???

In the archives, (Store) 2 or 3 examples of >Copies< of Adana Quarto,s made almost entirely from Hardwood, inc. the Bed and the Platen, just re-enforced at the stress points with metal straps, with rollers on 2 out of 3 would/can work, still, 3rd one debate-able by virtue of Woodworm.

Give it a Try perhaps, for very very modest outlay, improve the *Modus Operandi* and then Onwards/Upwards
Good Luck.

Don’t build a platen press unless your main goal is building a platen press.

…and you are willing to part with a lot of time and money.

If your goal is to print, then build a simple, tabletop cylinder press, or better yet, buy one. The latter is a whole lot cheaper unless you know what you’re doing.

With a bit of patience and effort, you can find them for a couple of hundred dollars. If you have a bit of a budget and value your time, you can buy a restored one for 750’ish, have it shipped anywhere in the states and be ready to go in a couple of weeks.