Moving large Charles Brand Etching Press
A group of artists in Topeka KS. area are hoping to build a community shop in what was an abandoned building in the NOTO Arts District. In addition to letterpress (will be looking for the right equipment in about a year) we want to provide artists’ presses and I have come across a 36x60 Motorized Charles Brand in California that I would like to purchase and donate. Unfortunately the packing and freighting ‘ball park estimate’ for dismantling and shipping to Topeka was $6K. The press is accessible in a ground level outside door storage area - garage. At this end we can provide a fork lift for ground level unloading.
My questions are 2. 1. Can the press safely be shipped in one piece by a standard moving company (and if so how should we instruct a household mover to blanket/pack/secure)
2. If no to #1, can a couple of old men with some basic mechanical skill take off the motor, roller, bed of the press using something like a 2Ton foldable shop crane and crate and load onto pick-up and trailer ourselves? Obviously not experienced at this!
Can’t weigh more than a ton or two. Why not just strap it down on a trailer? You may want to block up the middle to save strain on the legs. I just moved a 12 x 18 Kluge and a hydraulic over electric paper cutter on a trailer by myself, although I had to get a large forklift to unload them. They were put on the trailer with a pallet jack. You want the trailer to have working brakes.
I would suggest you speak to Perry Tymeson of Suitcase Press. He is the Charles Brand expert.
http://suitcasepress.blogspot.com/
DGM
Do you have any pictures and or dimensions?
These would help greatly in giving you some pointers on rigging this jewel.
Without knowing more details I believe this could be done with proper trailer and 3/4 or 1 ton pick up.
As an example, I was involved with moving a diesel powered water pump from central Kansas to central Iowa. The engine and pump weighed in at 12,000 pounds. Moved with HD 1 ton Dodge 4X4 and tilt trailer. Would I want to take that combo over the Rocky Mountains, probably not, but anything up to 6-8,000 pounds should not be a problem.
If I can be of assistance, let me know. Have 30 plus years of moving old iron, safely.
Marshall
Thanks for your comments Steve & Marshall. The press is a bit over a ton, I think, and the roller itself is supposed to be about 800 lbs.
The Charles Brand Presses can be taken apart, a lot is bolted, I would consider taken it apart and solid crate it in a wood crate and than ship it by RAIL, far less than trucking if time is not am issue.