Can anyone identify this machine?
Hi there,
I’m a graphic designer based in Melbourne, Australia. I bought this machine about 10 years ago from a country junk store. It is about the size of a large sewing machine. It sits on a stand that also contains a motor to turn the drum. It came with cylindrical drums with grooves that the metal type slides into, and boxes of type. If anyone knows what type of beast it is and what it’s value is I’d be very pleased.
Cheers
Phil
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Seems to me at first sight like a collage of several machines.. I’m not sure this is one particular machine. But the cylinder I’m almost positive is part of a Poco proof press, but you are missing the bed which is what moves back and forward to print, at least from what it looks like in these photos.
A Multigraph I think - The Okains Bay Museum on Banks Peninsula here in New Zealand has a whole lot of little T-shaped type for this sort of machine, which was designed to be used in offices for circulars etc. Slide the type into the slots, and simply wind the handle…
Circuit5 might be right, i’ve seen a couple of these but never seen one with a motor. if its run with the motor i would think the handle would hit you. cool machine.
Recognized this right away and smiled at your good fortune! The give-away is the partial, small drum with the hand crank on the side. You have the remnant of a Multigraph duplicator. Useful for making type-written letters for promotional purposes, without having someone type the same letter 1,000 times. Found pictures of the system at plates 36D and 36E here:
http://www.officemuseum.com/copy_machines.htm
I agree, an excellent find! Circut and Archibald are correct, it’s a Multigraph; probably a Model No. 66 or perhaps a Model No. 200. It looks to be pretty complete except for the sheet metal paper feed table and wooden paper receiving tray.
Although originally designed as a “forms typewriter” to typewrite form letters, through an 8” wide ribbon, at 2000+ per hour, by the time of your press (late 1920s or early 1930s), the Multigraph had evolved into an office printing press, the beginnings of the “in-house” printshop. With the fairly advanced inking system yours has (2 form rollers, ink fountain, several distributor & oscillator rollers) this machine is capable of work similar to any 8x12 platen press, but faster.
Because they were marketed and sold mainly into offices and small businesses rather than printshops, Multigraphs are not as well known nor appreciated as they should be, and therefore seem to have relatively low monetary value, but their worth as a press and a conversation piece is priceless! The short T-base type is a bit difficult to find, but curved plates (including photopolymer) can also be used. I’ve put over 50,000 impressions on one of my Multigraphs and will be happy to help you get yours up and printing.
Dave (the Ink in Tubes & Multigraph guy)
Wow. Thanks to Dave, Circut, dickg and Archilbald. I now know I am the proud owner of a Multigraph 66 or 200. It did come with the feed table and receiving tray, I just didn’t photograph them. And I have loads of the T shaped type in various serifs and sans serif styles. Just need to decide now if I want to keep it and restore or pass it on to someone with more time patience! Thanks for your offer of advice Dave, there is a chance I’ll take you up on it. Thanks again all.
Phil