Need help identifying a 10” x 15” platen press

Here are a few pictures.

letterpress2.jpg

letterpress.jpg

It looks like a Dodson, which is a C&P resold by a company in Atlanta, if I remember right. It would be a fairly late model C&P. The one I had was outfitted with oil cups and was a really nice machine. Maybe other folks have more info than I do - it looks really nice.

Paul

Thanks for the info Paul. Mine does have the oil cups. I just did a search under for Dodson serial numbers and couldn’t find anything. Do you know of a good resource where I could look this up?

The September 1948 Graphic Arts Monthly has a full-page ad for the Dodson 10x15 platen. It looks identical to the New Series C&P. Ad reads:
“Description
Presses are heavily constructed of quality steel, cast iron and hard bronze castings, well machined and accurately fitted. The side frames, bed, connecting bracket, roller frames, platen, fly wheel, ink disc, etc., are of cast iron. All straight and crank shafts are of steel. The saddles are hard bronze which gives a long-wearing bearing surface. The foregoing with wood feed boards and the standard equipment below comprise the principal and necessary working parts.
Standard Equipment
Single Ink Disc, Impression Throw-Off, Depressible Grippers, Crank-shaft and Large Gear and Pinion Guard. Steel sidearms are bronze bushed for economical replacement. 3 Chases, Gripper Wrench, Impression Wrench, 6 Roller Cores, 6 Roller Trucks.
Accessory Equipment
(Can Be Furnished)
Long Ink Fountain with Brackets, Screws, and other Parts for attaching to Press.
Foot Treadle with Hook and Bolt, ready to attach to Press.
Roller Mold with Tube, Base and Star.
Press Brakes & Motor Brackets
Prompt Delivery Fully Guaranteed
Specifications
Dimensions of Chase Inside 10”x15”, Outside 12 1/2” x 17”
Dimensions of Platen 11 1/4”x 18 1/2”
Weight, approximately 1600 popunds; boxed for shipment 2000 pounds
Floor space 47”x55”
Dodson Printers Supply Co.
Atlanta, Ga. U.S.A.”

I checked in Ralph Green’s History of the Platen Jobber and the dates he listed for Dodson is 1948-53. I can’t remember where I saw it, but I’m fairly certain the presses were made by C&P.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful. So now that I’m almost certain that it’s a Dodson from around 1948-53, do you know how I could look up the serial number of a Dodson to see what year it was made? Even though it was made by C&P, I’ve not seen serial numbers for C&P’s that start with a D.