Golding or Sigwalt?

It is neither — The Young America press resembles this but I can’t remember an oval base. This also may be a European (probably German) press — Weiler made a similar press also. Sterne’s Catalog doesn’t show it, so I am guessing it is European. Where are you located?

Bob

Hi Bob,

I’m in Vancouver, Canada
Something told me it could be neither too… I’ve never seen a tabletop press that has this structure combined with an oval base before.

The Golding Official, and the Sigwalt that is a near-exact copy, both use a completely different mechanism for impression. This press has the same mechanism as the Pilot and similar presses, one of which is the Young America, but its base is different. Sadly, the Briar Press Museum is offline — but it’s mostly American presses so might not help much. I don’t know of a European version of the museum.

Bob

I found the museum — it’s now hosted by Letterpress Commons at https://letterpresscommons.com/presses/tabletop-platens/
for the tabletop presses. I went through and your press isn’t there — but there are only, I think two European presses shown, and I really think yours (if you get it :-) is European.

Bob

Pretty sure it is neither Golding, Sigwalt or European.

Looks like a Curtis and Mitchell Columbian. Hard to tell which size.

This is a photo of the No.1 I sold a couple of years ago:

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It is indeed a Curtis & Mitchell Columbian No. 1, 5 x 7 1/2. It sold for $25 in the late 1890s. The firm was located in Boston.

Lots of Hypothesis, without too much investigative insight.perhaps.???

Should a first step be to identify the *Thread Sizes* which would at least place it (the M/c.) on the correct >Continent> ?

Next in the absence of Insignia, Serial Number,s etc., surely a simple examination of the main casting parts should give some clues as to its origins. i.e. in the sand castings, Ex, Foundry of origin part identification (unless it is a rip off) found, Under the base, Rear of the Bed, Rear of the Platen,
on virtually any part that has NOT been *fettled* !!!

Thank you Kimaboe and John Horn,

I appreciate your comments and photographs of the press. You’ve solved the mystery. I’ll now need to decide whether or not to snatch it up. The last time I bought a press this size I paid about 200 bucks. Currently, the seller is asking 1400. I’ve bought and moved a windmill for less… oh well.

Thanks everyone!

I have to say, I was a bit sad to let mine go. It is a strong press with a well-designed mechanism. And it looks pretty sweet too.

I asked $850 for mine iirc.