Washington-style Hoe
Hello, friends! I’m finally getting around to restoring a very large Washington-style Hoe (“Imperial,” I believe). This press will be installed in a teaching space//book-lab. I would like to install the press on a sturdy pallet, because I am anticipating needing to move the press (not often, but occasionally, as we adjust the space to accommodate more equipment or other concerns). For those who have installed such presses in this way, would anyone be willing to share the specs on their pallets? (I’m sure it’ll have to be a custom build on quite a sturdy pallet; I’d like to be able to move the press’s staple with a pallet jack when I need to do so). The press is ser. # 5186, with “R. Hoe & Co. New York” cast on the staple. (Bob—I believe it’s in the census already!)
Thanks, everyone!
Andrew
Andrew, I posted a reply with a suggestion and a diagram, but it did not post -“internal server error”. Write me direct if you’d like to see it.
Bob
Andrew, as an alternative idea, buy yourself a 2-ton hydraulic shop floor crane (2-ton capacity) - a couple of hundred dollars from Amazon or such - and just pick the assembled press up with it and move it where you want it. The press weighs about a ton or a bit more, and the crane is on wheels. You could add a small 4-caster furniture dolly under the forestay or have someone to lift the end of the bed rails while moving the press. Much simpler and probably cheaper than the platform/pallet, and safer to use the press on the floor. Be sure to only move it with the bed under the platen!
Bob
Bob, this is great—the diagram did post (or you re-posted?)—either way, it’s very helpful, along with the idea of the floor crane. I also saw you comment under the original note about this press—from back in 2019. I recovered this press from a private seller outside Bedford. It’s now here, in Davidson, NC. Been waiting a while to get to work on this restoration project, but I’m excited for it! Thanks!
Andrew
Andrew, feel free to ask if you have any questions about the work on the Washington - no charge if I don’t need to travel there! As to the posting of the plan idea I received the same message twice - something like “ unable to process - general system failure”, and after the second I checked and nothing had been posted so I gave up. I guess the system relented and posted both!
Regards, Bob
Thanks, Bob! I’ll keep you posted, and will hope to be able to share restoration pictures at some point!
Best,
Andrew