Westman & Baker platen presses, paper cutters
I am looking for information on the Westman & Baker Co. based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the turn of the last century. I believe it closed for business around 1925. Any information on their presses and cutters would be appreciated. Where they original models or built under licence?
Thank you,
Gus Knierim
Conestoga Press
Hello Gus,
I’ve known your name for a while, so I’d like to start by saying “Hello”. Stiff’n’Sore is my press name in Stouffville, ON, where I have a 9x12 Westman and Baker. Have you run across Geoffrey Ryder’s article, “Westman & Baker, Makers” in Devil’s Artisan (11?, 12? - 1984)? His is the only one I know of. In it he says that the company’s only patent was for a brass galley design. Recently I discovered that the platen press design was actually the “new” Gordon design that Geo. P came out with in 1872. Later on they built both cutters and cylinder presses, “the Leverless Monona”, under contract, so my guess is that they may have obtained the Canadian rights for the Gordon. I’d love to follow up some time with you about W&B and other Canadian manufacturers, but I’ve gotta run.
Stephen Sword
If you go to www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com and type “print industry” into their search engine, and then click on “print industry” again and then “history,” there is a small amount of information which says that Westman & Baker produced Gordon presses from 1874 to 1922. They also produced printers and bookbinders equipment. At Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton, Ontario (southeast of Cambridge), there is a platen press that I did not recognise, maybe because I am from the US originally, but it may be a Westman & Baker. Being close to retirement, I am hoping to volunteer at the Westfield print shop starting in the spring as it is only 10 minutes from my house. Westfield also has a hand press (made by Taylor in New York as I recall), and a Hoe cylinder press (which they do not use). As for me, I have been in letterpress and/or other aspects of printing all my life, as a hobbyist, educator, and currently in industry.
Geoff Quadland