Category: General discussion
Later topic: Honey, I will move the furniture again, but why?
Earlier topic: Guillotine Paper Cutter Adjusting

C. Potter Jr. Country Press, ca. 1865

Just restored. Unique press that was in rough shape. Name on one roller: BURLING BEACON”. As of yet we have not located this prior newspaper owner.

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here’s some photos of the Potter

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It looks better that it probably did when new. Pretty spiffy.

John Henry
Cedar Creek Press

Truly amazing!!!! I love the character this press has to it!!! OH…look at the huge gear!!!!! All the little arches on the upper level with the name plate placed into one of them. Then the whole press looks like it’s standing on fancy fluted columns. Well done!!! THANKS!!! Steve - Liberty Press

Absolutely fantastic restoration job! Congratulations!

thanks everyone for the kind words. I hope it will be saved so the next generation can see just what our early pioneers were able to do with very crude tools.

Outstanding, I trust it functions as well as it looks.

I have to echo John Henry’s comment and add “why?”.

Gachap,

Nick and his crew run an amazing museum in Ontario. Check out their site if you haven’t:

http://www.howardironworks.org

Bradley.

Thanks again re welcome comments. We appreciate it. As to why we would do such a thing? I’m neither new to [Print],or negligent in our approach to restorations of printing & bindery equipment. Sometimes we are asked why go to extremes. We simply believe in returning equipment to its as-new state. In the Potter’s case had we shown before photos with heavy rust and missing parts - including the suicide cam and complete fly, it may be easier to agree. Plus we really hope that this press will be saved for future generations.

Items from this time period did look very fancy and flashy….many times loaded with pin striping of different colors (old style Pearls). There was no internet, TV, or magazine adds to help sell your item. Long ago when learning auto body refinishing at Wyoming Tech I was told very firmly by a retired guy helping our instructors ” Remember this in life & bodywork - First Impression is Everything” So if your trying to market a press eye appeal was everything!!! Whether in a window display or World Fair display….it had to stand out at first glace. Everything from seed cleaners, old gas engine, motors, and presses were all sharply painted. (Pearl, Prouty, Daughaday, Alert Press to name a few) Now….why do it today….to help show people how sharp a press was when it was new and so we never forget the level of detail true craftsman put into these items. Pin striping, paint to even pattern making for cast iron - the fluted columns this press is on - all the finer details you DO NOT see in anything built today!!!! Don’t get me wrong, I understand there is a place for not restoring something and leaving an item in their “work clothes” but there is also a place for seeing an item in their “dress clothes”. My items restored to dress clothes are run and shown just like they are in their work clothes. Steve - Liberty Press

Well said Steve. Thanks

I absolutely love this.