Lighting Jobber Restoration

Could you post a photo of the damage?

Michael

John M. Jones’s Lightning jobbers are pretty rare, so replacements will be pretty difficult. Find a good machine shop/welder and see what they think about a repair. Not cheap, but a better chance than finding a replacement part or parts or having one made. The platen should be cast iron - though I am not real familiar with those. Cast iron does not bend very gracefully!

Bob

Sorry - inadvertent double post.

As an example of what can be done: I have 7 x 11 platen press. Before I got it, one corner of the platen had been broken off. That corner was braised back on with what looks like brass. Then the entire platen was ground perfectly flat again. I’m sure the grinding was done on an industrial precision grinder. That repair has worked fine

I seem to be having an issue posting pictures. I believe the part is cast iron but it has magnetic properties which leads me to think it’s some sort of alloy or cast steel. I’m currently looking for machine shops to recreate the part. I’ll keep trying to post pictures.

Photo of crack,

IMG_3224.jpeg

Cast iron, like almost all iron except some stainless steel, is magnetic, as shown by these two bar magnets stuck to the platen of my Pearl through the packing. Forge brazing, or some of the latest welding technologies, should be able to repair that satisfactorily.

Bob

IMG_8286.jpeg

That crack can be bronze welded by a good welding shop. Does the bend start at that crack?

Michael

The bend does start at the crack. My fear is that any repair will cause further damage. I have found a caster that has the capability to cast me a new part. I know it is going to be expensive but I believe it’s worth it. It’s a beautiful press!
Done wire brushing and oiling!