Value of Sigwalt Press?
Hi Everyone - I am new to letterpress and new to this site although I have been following it as a guest for some time.
I recently decided I would like to invest in a table top press. I found locally a Sigwalt press in working condition with all parts included. The seller isn’t sure of the model but believes it to be an Ideal, and the interior chase dimension is 4x6”. They are asking $750 OBO which is in my budget but I don’t know if that’s in line with the value of the press. I’ve tried doing some research online but can’t find much information on Sigwalts that size.
Any thoughts on what a fair offer would be for this press? Thanks in advance for your help!
After that 5x8 Kelsey went for well north of $3000 the other day I’d have to say a (greatly superior) Sigwalt Ideal would be worth $750, especially if it’s complete. If the press has a square base and a side lever it’s most likely the Ideal. I don’t know if the 4x6 was available with a stirrup handle, but that style is my preference for comfortable printing.
You could try negotiating, starting at $400 or so and see if you can get the price down (since it’s OBO).
Bob
Hi Bob, thanks so much for your feedback! The press does have a square base and side lever (with stirrup handle). I feel more confident about the potential purchase after your comments. Going to see it tonight, and hopefully will come home with my first press :)
Howdy,
We teach letterpress and love the sigwalts! I say snap it up!! They are far better than Kelseys and they are easier to learn on than the pilots because they open wider. I use our Sigwalts all the time especially when I need to do something quick and am too lazy to ink up (or rather clean up) the vandy or the larger c&ps
Cindy
One of the reasons I love the Sigwalt design is that while it is very strong and capable of excellent impression, it is also designed so that a very large sheet of paper can be printed with the excess just hanging out there. I’ve printed 12x18 and 4x38 inch sheets on my 6x9 Nonpareil and given a choice of it or another kind of tabletop I would only upgrade to a Golding Official (the design basis for the Sigwalt Ideal and Nonpareil). I don’t think you can go wrong unless the press has been broken somewhere and not properly repaired.
Bob
Just curious… I’ve never seen a Sigwalt #3 (4x6) with a stirrup handle. Was it added or did this model actually come with one? The catalogs I have only show it with a straight lever handle.