Ebay buy? Or Not to Buy?
Dear Briar Press Members,
I hope that you are well, I am new to the forum, but not to printmaking and letterpress. I have been going to various studios to use their presses but would now like to make the jump to acquiring my own. I have just see a GOLDING & CO BOSTON USA YEAR 1891 on ebay for £100, but I believe it needs a lot of work. From the photos I can see that at least one piece is missing, a connecting piece from the foot peddle to the cogs that work the rollers I believe. My question to those who know is… bearing in mind that I am a complete novice to restoration, how easy would it be to bring this press back to its former glory? Is there anyone out there who could help or advise? Or should I just leave well enough alone? I am based in London
Many thanks - Olu
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261095613627?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=...
Olu,
I’d suggest contacting John Falstrom in CT who restores Goldings. He may have spare parts:
http://www.perennialdesigns.net
Also suggest you join the Pearl/Golding group in Yahoo Groups.
[TH]
The platen is installed upside down , the front of the treadle is broken off, and the ink pawl mechanism has a break, but if you know someone who can braze and/or weld, it looks like a decent and restorable Pearl Oldstyle #3.
Dan
Good eye Dan. I know nothing about Pearls but it’s not hard to realize the platen is upside down. How does that happen?
Looks like the gripper bar mounts are definitely on top and the rod is missing. It’s not absolutely necessary to have grippers to print most things though.
If the rollers are rubber they look like they may be in usable condition if cleaned up, which would be a big plus but I’m just going by the picture.
Looks like it’s missing the chase.
Looks like it could be coaxed back into service with a little work.
Dave
I put the picture on flickr ukletterpress in the hope that somebody might want to give it home and save it from the scrapper. It will go in an estate car, pull off the flywheel and undo the 4 bolts that hold the top on the base.
Everyone THANK YOU! I’ve decided not to buy the press. Thankfully I see that someone has bid on it, so it won’t go to the scrappers. I wasn’t able to find out roughly how much it would cost to fix up and didn’t want to find myself with a press that I couldn’t get parts for and with so little press mechanical knowledge or in fact tools I just wasn’t brave enough. My heart said risk it, but my head has put it’s foot down!? But on a more positive note I have learnt loads about the GOLDING & CO BOSTON press and if the person who bought it is out there I would really like to know how the restoration goes. Again thank you.