Saddles for a C&P Old Style

Hi All,

I recently picked up a C&P Old Style that is up and running for scoring and perfing, but has not printed in a while. I have found rollers and cores, but several of the saddles that hold the rollers in place have broken. I am having a hard time finding these - does anyone know of a place to get these.

Thanks

Jim

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Hi Jim,

What size C&P?

Paul

Paul,

It is an 8x12. Everything else seems to be in good working order, but 1 of the double saddles has broken and the single left saddle is also snapped.

Thanks!

Jim

Did you ever find a source for these or perhaps a place that could fabricate them? Our Heritage Museum is getting a C&P 8x12 OS that is missing one of its hooks/saddles and the springs.

Thanks,
Tre

I have a C&P 8x12 oldstyle. The parts you mentioned should be any easy job for a qualified machine shop. You might have to show the machinist the press and how it functions to get the right fit. I don’t know if Fritz Klinke at NA Graphics would have these or Dave Churchman in Indianapolis.

Craig Malmrose

Tre,

I have not yet. I brought them to a machine shop for a quote and it was for over $1000. I haven’t had a chance to get any other quotes, but that was a little steep for my blood.

Jim,
Was that $1000.00 for all the saddles for your press?
Don

While my CP 8x12 OS’s saddles are in good shape I have given some thought as to what I would do if I ever had to replace one. The answer is: make it myself. I would start with a block of aluminum, and simply cut, drill, and file everything to shape. I would polish the roller core seats with emery cloth.

I don’t thnk it would be necessary but a stronger alternative for material that would still be easy to work with is brass. But mild steel could be used as well and be worked with basic tools. I like the idea of brass or aluminum in case the seats for the cores don’t turn out perfectly smooth or shaped. The cores would be harder than the block and eventully self-fit without being damaged.

This is not a complicated part and not even one that requires extreme tolerances be maintained. A trick for the half-circle core seats is to start with an oversized block, drill holes in it the corect diameter for the cores, and then cut the block to size leaving half the hole.

Bar stock of different materials and sizes is available from McMaster-Carr.

Rich

Rich’s post, talking about different metals to make parts from, reminded me of a good rule of thumb which you can’t always use, but it is a good idea when you can use it. When two parts rub, rotate, slide, etc., on each other, make the part that is easiest to replace out of a softer metal, and the part that is tougher (or costlier) to replace, out of a harder metal. Then the softer part will wear instead of the harder part.

We have an ancient platen press in the restored village where I volunteer, in which the spring loaded steel rods which hold the roller hooks and saddles, slide in and out of holes in an iron casting. After 130 or more years, the holes in the casting are becoming worn and enlarged. I am going to cut and form pieces of copper shim stock and bend them in the shape of a tube, and slide them into the enlarged holes in the iron casting, and flare the ends so that the “tubes” stay there. Then the spring loaded roller rods will slide in and out of the soft copper “tubes,” wearing them instead of the steel rods or the iron casting. This will stop the wear of anything but the copper, which is easily replaced. This might not last for a production press, but for our press which gets light use, I bet it will last for at least 5000 impressions before needing attention again.

Don,

That was for just one of the double saddles. I thought it was a bit steep, but didn’t have anything to base it on. Not sure whether I’ll try to craft something myself or keep hunting. By the time I do it myself (knowing my handyman skills and propensity to buy tools I don’t need) it will probably run more than the machine shop. Thanks for all the help and suggestions from everyone.

Jim

Jim,
I run a machine shop and that sounded a bit steep for me as well. I am going to be gone for about 3 weeks starting tomorrow, but if you haven’t solved the problem by the time I get back I will look at one of my 8X 12 hooks and give you an estimate on making one for you. I believe I can come in considerably less expensive .I will check with you when I return
Don

Thanks Don - I appreciate the help.

Jim

Jim,
I have a parts press and I am sure I have some good saddles on it. Let me know if you need them and how many you need. I will be willing to sell them for 25.00 each, pluss shipping. Let me know.
[email protected]
Wayne