Update - Need a pressman to refurbish a letterpress!!

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Thank you, the size was too big. They are there now.

If I were going to teach a class and actually have the students print something, I would keep both of them. Trying to get a whole class of students through the process of printing a project on just one press is probably not the optimum situation.

I was the last letterpress instructor at a technical college which shut down their letterpress facility about 1980. For our class, we had 3 or 4 hand fed platen presses (like yours only floor models), a cylinder proof press, and a Heidelberg windmill (just to give you an idea).

I’m assuming you are doing this to give the students an idea how the letterpress printing process works, and I think that is worthwhile. Giving them an idea how all the major conventional processes work is worthwhile, in my opinion. I’m talking about letterpress, offset (lithography), flexography, gravure, and screen process. The major difference between the conventional processes and the digital processes, of course, is that the conventional processes all need some kind of plate. And lest the students think that the conventional printing processes are being relegated to the dust bin of history, all they have to do is walk into a grocery store. Almost everything they see there has been printed by one or more of the conventional printing processes.

I wish you the best of luck. Thank you for undertaking this project. I think that all to often, students are taught the latest technologies, but they have no idea how we got to the point we are now at. Without that background, it makes it much harder for them to see the big picture, solve problems, etc.

Are the presses identical in size? If you have to pick- assuming both are fully functional, just need rollers and drawsheets/packing/gauges- I would pick the larger of the two.

The press with the shovel handle looks to have the handle misaligned on the shaft- that is the first thing to look at. It should be more upright with the press open like that.
that press looks to have roller cores and rollers, as well as trucks but from here they look old, probably have to replace them either way and it doesn’t cost much for cores.

They both appear to have chases…..

Is one better built than the other? Do the castings and finishing look better? Are the castings for the impression arms beefier on one than the other? How about the platen conditions and inking disc conditions? Similar or is one more damaged/pitted? Keep the better overall press if you absolutely must pick between them..

I believe I would agree with Geoffrey, keep both if you can afford new rollers for both. If not, I’d opt for the C&P as it is a newer model and may (?) have seen less use. I’m not certain what advantages were seen with the intro of the new style press, but I think it may be just a bit “beefier” than the old style (like the Superior pictured).

John Henry
Cedar Creek Press

I believe I would agree with Geoffrey, keep both if you can afford new rollers for both. If not, I’d opt for the C&P as it is a newer model and may (?) have seen less use. I’m not certain what advantages were seen with the intro of the new style press, but I think it may be just a bit “beefier” than the old style (like the Superior pictured).

John Henry
Cedar Creek Press

Wow, thank you all so much for your thoughtful responses. All this info will help me. I will take a look at the presses in detail tomorrow with all your thoughts and questions in mind.

My goal is not to teach 100% of my students to operate a letterpress, but the ones who show an extended interest in the career path of graphic production should understand the history of printing from experience, not just books. In addition, no matter how sweet the new technology is, it doesn’t come close to the results of a deep impression with hand mixed color on lovely cotton stock. I’d be synthesizing fine art and production.

One experienced member, also a teacher, responded saying that I may not have time to teach letterpress printing. He may be right. I need to take into account the whole process to make an educated decision.

I’ll post a follow up with some info after I take another look at the presses. If anything I’ll probably keep one as a historical art piece in the shop to show off when I teach the history of printing, but I would love for it to be operable for special projects for those students with the desire to learn.

Thank you all :)

Good to hear about someone having such passion for passing and impressing this knowledge upon the young; kudos

No matter which table-top press is chosen, its’ usable life could be rendered useless should a desire for “deep impression” be the focus and fascination… especially in the hands of experimenting users who may not comprehend limits.

Many great comments on here. I would say use both, but if you plan on just the one I would say keep the Chandler Price as that one, the handle looks to be aligned on the shaft right whereas the other one with the shovel handle doesn’t look like it’s in the right spot for how far closed the platen is. As for refurbishing it looks like both could just use a dust off. I would find all the little holes, should be near where arms and such attach to the shafts, they are oil holes. I would try and get a little bit of oil in them and see if everything is free and moving. Don’t try and force it to move though if anything is stuck.

Also, if you do only plan on using the one, what were are you planning on doing with the other one?

Hello all, it’s been a long time! Thank you again for all your great insights. I am ready to refurbish one of these presses and need help and I have a budget.

Are any of you located in southern California and willing to help? We can chat privately about your availability and establish an estimate.

Please email at [email protected] if you are interested.

Pretty sure Craftsmen is still in business and supply parts for all their presses. C&P not so much, though there are enough of them out there that parts are not really much of an issue. Service life of machines like this are measured in centuries not decades. Be prepared to refurbish rollers.

Since you are located in Southern CA, you could have attended the annual LA Printer’s fair where you could have a plethora of help… a week ago!
https://www.printmuseum.org/event/2019-los-angeles-printers-fair/

@daleraby thanks for the insight!

@Butch I can ‘t believe I missed that! Next year for sure.

I have the reverse of what you have (Old Style C&P Pilot, New Style Craftsmen Superior), but successfully restored both. I’m on the East Coast, so I can’t come to you, but I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about the process. Of course, I’m sure I’m not the only one who can help on Briar Press.

As far as I can tell from the photos, they look to be fairly complete, though, as someone previously mentioned, the arm on the Superior is at too low an angle for how open the press is. When the press is open like a V, the handle should be fairly upright. It’s a simple fix of unscrewing the handle, rotating it to the correct position, and then re-screwing it in. There should be a notch or screw shaft at the correct spot.

Craftsmen Machine Co. is indeed still in operation: http://craftsmenmachinery.com/ - ask for Sherwin Marks. Very helpful guy. That said, you might have an issue sourcing parts for the Old Style Superior. I know he had a lot of New Style parts when I was restoring mine.

James
Old Town Press
Staten Island

Thank you James! I appreciate your time writing that informative post. Everyone is so helpful on Briar Press. I am speaking with a local pressman, but he may not be able to help with the rebuild and my time is limited. I may be reaching out again. Thank you!!

Thank you James! I appreciate your time writing that informative post. Everyone is so helpful on Briar Press. I am speaking with a local pressman, but he may not be able to help with the rebuild and my time is limited. I may be reaching out again. Thank you!!