Albion Hand Press mfg. by Midland Printers’ Engineers’ Ltd.

The plaque names the company as Midland Printers’ Engineers Ltd, not Inland Printers’ Engineers Ltd.

The London Gazette recorded the company as being struck off in 1950. That’s all I can find online I’m afraid.

The style of the lettering on the plaque has a first half of the twentieth century British engineering company feel to it. Base don this, and the title of the company, I suggest that it is a nineteenth century press that has been refurbished by Midland Printers’ Engineers Ltd sometime in the first half of the twentieth century.

Noted and corrected, thank you

Perhaps do a little research into *Hopkinson & Cope* Toggle action Printing Press including (Iron) Foundries of Origin (Birmingham U.K.!) 19th - 20th. century, from Foundry Pattern Parts from the actual press, = Cross beam Head, underside of Rolling bed, serial number(s) hidden under the Top Platen, (many years of grime) also stamped into the Bottom Platen Bed, as with conventional Press bed where the chase would obscure,??

UNDER, the Supplied by Plaque, possibly,? - Etc., Etc,.

Apologies for potential rubbish, but may prompt further.

Good Luck.

Usually manufacturer info cast into the summer plus plaque on front of piston…note says “supplied”…Rochat been servicing presses for 3 generations now so maybe has some info….there is a book history of the Albion Press….Rochat making their own now.

I have had 2 of these small presses - see earlier Briar Press posts, both dates from 1870s.
This plate is a supplier plate nothing more. Often when machines were handled by printers suppliers and refurbed they would add a plate like this. And I’ve seen on more than one occasion the original makers name and date ground off. I assume this was a way of selling a secondhand machine as just that rather than one that could carry the date showing a machine of 100 years or more!
On the Albion the date and number is stamped (usually) on the bar above the wooden handle. Also the piston can be stamped in the same way. The chill wedge also can be marked but this isn’t always evident as it’s a part often replaced due to wear.
The bed is not marked so that’s a red herring cast by Mick, also you seldom find foundry marks. A number which may be a casting number can be found on the left of the staple underneath the lion and unicorn crest (if there’s one). This number is sometimes thought to be the serial number. It is not - apart from on one machine I handled where it matched the numbers on the rest of the machine.
Perhaps with a bit of judicious hunting and a good light you may find evidence that the name and numbers have been removed. Maybe you could supply a close up pic of the front top of the machine and we’ll see. Good luck it’s a real gem you’ve turned up there. They print wonderfully ! Jeremy

Just noticed above the left hand screw if nameplate evidence of what I meant. The Austin Wood press I owned was dated there!

The best article on the history of the Albion Press is by the distinguished wood engraver, Reynolds Stone, in the Journal of the Printing Historical Society, No. 2 (1966.) I looked through the article but couldn’t find any reference to your press. After the patent ran out a great many Albions were made and sold by various suppliers. I have foolscap folio Albion somewhat similar to yours, but with no identifying mark at all.

Here’s a bit of Albion lagniape:

SONG. — THE ALBION PRESS
Air. — Roast Beef of Old England

When a nation’s right or glory calls,
‘Tis Albion’s sons and wooden walls;
But here, my friends, let’s make a pause,
The ALBION PRESS claims our applause.
From year to year three hearty good cheers,
For the Albion factory, huzza, boys,
For the Albion factory, huzza! etc.

-From C.H. Timperley’s Songs of the Press, 2nd ed.,1845, p.191.