Peerless Press chase size?

I bought a Peerless Press. Unfortunately, the seller hasn’t found the chase yet. He said he will send it when it is found but I am having one made in the meantime by a relative. The press has the date 1873 on it as well as “Peerless Printing Press Co. Palmyra, N.Y., U.S.A.” The outside dimension of the chase should be 14+/- inches wide to fit in the press. I then measured the slight discoloration left by the chase and came up with an inside dimension of 8 x 11? Could someone with a Peerless chase that is 14” wide outside please post the measurements inside and out so I can see if I was even close? Thank you

Also, the shippers broke off the end of the axle that was in the flywheel. To reattach the flywheel, the same relative, suggested milling a steel cylinder that will fit over the end of the axle (attached with set screws) that has the flywheels axel as part of it. This would put the flywheel 3/4” farther away from the press than originally. Does anyone see any reason this wouldn’t work? Thanks again

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If you are making a chase it doesn’t really matter what the inside dimension is, i’ve made a couple out of plywood and they work very well. The shaft being a little longer shouldn’t matter either, as long as the shaft didn’t get bent when it broke. Why not just try the flywheel on what’s left of the shaft, maybe it will work. Dick G.

The key to the chase fitting is how you design the upper and lower bars of the chase. In most presses, the chase is tapered so that it fits tightly into some sort of fixture or pins which hold it tight against the bed. At the top, there is a clamp which must hold the top edge also firmly against the bed. You might want to make up a plywood mockup of the chase to make sure the outer dimensions fit OK. It is easier to refine the design in wood than metal.

I have one chase for my Kelsey Union press which holds the chase clamp so high that it hits the rollers when they pass across it. I haven’t done anything to improve the chase, but could easily grind away a bit where the clamp meets to give the proper clearance. That is just an example.

Jhenry