Golding Official restoration
Newcomer here! I stumbled across this Golding Official (No 4?) and was so awed by it that I had to get it. Probably going to need a fair bit of work but I want to restore it respectfully and get it up and running.
It’s all jammed up and I reckon taking it all apart to de-rust the parts, re-coating and making a couple of things from scratch will be a starting point for my plan. I found this forum while looking things up and am so pleased there is a community of experienced people. I’m hoping for any wisdom on where to start or things to be careful of in the process.
I have access to a well kitted-out workshop at a university here (London, UK) so will be able to do most things but this will be my first attempt at a project like this.
A couple of issues to get thoughts on
1) It came with one roller which I guess I can use as a template to make some new trucks on a lathe (in brass?). Is it easy enough to source the rubber at the right diameter and cut it to size? Are there any better ways of replacing the rollers? Cost will be a bit of a limiting factor for me..
2)The chase (5.5” x 8.5” measured on the inside) I have is noticeably smaller than the plate (10”x7”) and it doesn’t clip in comfortably because of how much smaller it is than the placeholder, so I have a feeling it probably isn’t the right one for this press. I’ve asked the person I got it from to have a rummage on their farm for the right one but if we don’t have it I presume I have to cast one in the right size - any advice/thoughts on this (including materials to use, any templates for the mould)?
3) Once it’s all cleaned up, what kind of finish would be truest to its original condition? I can’t tell if it’s a Japan black-type lacquer or whether it’s painted. Apart from the decals are there any other specific finishing details to know about?
4) Any other observations/thoughts/advice/strategies most welcome
I’ve attached a bunch of pictures but happy to upload any more as needed. Very excited about getting started - thanks all for your help!
There are several roller makers who can also supply trucks (in addition to new rollers) - and the go-to material these days is Delrin - available in black or white. Delrin is easier on the rails than any metal, and the black looks pretty good on a restored press.
Chases can be cut from thick sheet steel - no need to try to cast them. Have more than one made if at all possible. As for paint - at one time presses were thickly enameled, covering up any roughness in the casting. These days, body filler and spray enamel might be the best approach. You will do best to disassemble completely (photographing along the way), and inspect every piece for flaws of cracks. Never paint any of the bearing surfaces - I have a Gordon press restoration project on view at: https://pandemonium.press/press-restoration/
It looks too me like it is a 6x9 press with an undersize chase. but look on the insides of both roller rails for small steel pins sticking out of the cast iron about 3/16”. On my 6x9 Sigwalt Nonpareil, which is a pretty close copy of the Official, those pins are for centering and holding the chase; if the press has holes but not pins that may solve the chase fit, but that version of the official may not have that feature. Sourcing a 6x9 chase to fit may be a challenge. You’ll need to extricate the roller(s) from between the bed and platen, clean the old covering off, and you’ll have cores and trucks for replacement rollers. I would tread carefully about repainting it - it will be hard to replicate the original decoration if there is such. The ink disc of my Sigwalt is 10” in diameter, so that is a good match.