lifting a Golding Jobber 7
Hello letterpress friends,
I need to lift my Golding Jobber 7 to move it. Hiring a trailer might not be an option so i am investigating plan B. i am looking into hiring a crane truck to lift both the Windmill and the Jobber.
My question is: what is the best way to lift the a Golding Jobber?
The press has a broken area in the middle of the bottom part of the type bed (about 8cm wide and 1.5cm into the bed) and i have always wondered if this might have been caused by the pressure of chains when someone in the past had attempted to lift it. Under the bed seems to be the only solid area to grad the press from. Has anyone ever attempted this?
Thank you in advance
Leo
Hi Leo,
I have moved several Golding Jobbers and have more to move coming up. You may be right about the damage you describe coming from chains. I would always use straps rather than chains. I have always jacked and moved on skids/pipes or used a pallet jack/wood blocking and kept the press very close to the floor. For transport, I either use a tilt trailer with a winch(preferred) or a truck with a hydraulic lift tailgate. (liftgates scare me because they are ususally not level under load) I have always put the press on a sturdy solid pallet and bolted it down, or wooden skids to make a wider support area to prevent tipping. Golding Jobbers are very top heavy because their legs are not widely spaced! If a crane is the only way to lift, using straps through the bed would certainly not hurt the press given it is one solid casting on a 7. It would be prudent of course to remove the ink disk and associated fragile hardware on the top of the bed that might be contacted by the straps. If not too hard, I’d remove the flywheel too for better balance when in the air. I’d think a No. 7 weighs about 1200lbs or so its a lot “lighter” than the windmill but not to be taken “lightly”. Where are you located?
John
Thanks John,
I am in Australia. I can’t find here the variety of trailers that can be found in the US. I am trying tilt tray trucks at the moment to see if that is an option.
The other reason for my hesitation about the trailers and tow trucks is that the holes of 2 of the legs of my Golding are chipped away. but then, it might be enough to secure the press with those 2 and plenty of ropes.
lifting the Golding with straps sound like a fair strategy in this situation. Cheers
Leo
Put the press on a wide skid. Prefferably one you make with 4x4 runners and 3/4” solid top.Cut spaces in the runner to put strapping though as well as cut the bottom corners away at an angle. Strap the press down on to the skid with several straps making sure there is no slack for it to wobble while on the skid. Then employ the service of a roll back flat bed tow truck. Have them chain the winch to the skid in order to pull it up onto the flat bed. Be sure to have several friends there to help steady the press as it slides, but under no means try to “catch” it if it does start to tip.
I only bolted two 6”x6”x5’ runners under mine, but I also stripped it of every part save the platen. It was just he truck driver an myself when we loaded and unloaded it and we had no issue at all with it.