Original Gordon?
Hi,
I’d like to learn a bit more about my press, but I don’t think there are a lot of real records on it… I was told that it’s a mid-to-late- 19th century Gordon, but other than that I’ve got nothing.
It says G.P. Gordon, and has “254” stamped on the side of it. The inkplate used to be two pieces that spun in two directions, it appears, but has since been welded together. I think it’s also been retrofitted to run with a motor, which is kind of sad to me.
Any thoughts or ideas on its heritage?
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Chris, looks like the treadle is there, its just disconnected, the main shaft should have a bend in it that the treadle hooks onto, if the shaft is straight then someone changed it and you can’t use the treadle. Good Luck Dick G.
Yeah, the shaft was replaced at some point with a straight one. I do have the motor, though.
George Phineas Gordon designed this press in the 1870’s, then licensed manufacture all around the world - New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, etc. I even saw one in Vietnam that had been made in Japan.
Mine was made by Damon & Peets - who cast their own name on the lower cross member.
Mr. Chandler & Mr. Price bought the rights last - 1880 or so and this press evolved into the common C&P. It’s got a weird impression system and tends to chatter at high speed. C&P changed all that, but called their earliest C&P’s “Gordon style” - although it was vastly improved.
Sad to see that the crankshaft is gone. This press runs better with the treadle - which, btw, has value on its own.
One of these days, I’ll get around to writing up a page on it, but for now, my notes are scattered.
You can see some of my students scoring table tents on ours at http://excelsiorpress.org/blog/blog.video_sarah.html
It’s a nice press and a classic. I use mine for short -run scoring on a regular basis.
Google Gordon Press. You’ll find a lot of info on this old historical classic.
- Alan
I have one of those presses and would like to know more as well
Hi Alan,
Thanks for the information. Oddly enough, I think I originally tried to purchase my first press from/through you in fall of 2010, but as I recall you weren’t too into email. Either way, I wound up with this one!
Do you have any ideas on how to track down more about this specific press? The only markings I saw were the ones in the photos, but perhaps I missed a hidden one? I’d really like to be able to track down when/where this press was made.
Thanks!
Might help you identify the exact model by looking at the press images on Briar Press.
http://www.briarpress.org/museum/browse?t=4
Gordon Franklin New Style & Old Style on page 2