C&P Pilot 6.5x10…

Sorry, here are the images!

candp9.jpg

candp7.jpg

candp5.jpg

candp4.jpg

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candp2.jpg

candp1.jpg

The press has a really long lever and a modified gripper actuator assembly. These two modification look like the work of Louis of RI or Allen of NJ. It has no delivery board brackets. Other than that it looks like a very clean O.S. Pilot.

Tom
tandtpressrestoration.com

That nice long lever looks like a great way to break the castings of what is probably a fairly fragile press. The body castings of this particular press are not as strong as the later model, and because it is older the cast iron can be more fragile. Be careful using it, try not to give the form more impression than it needs to transfer image. I would look around for a standard lever, that one scares me.

Paul

Paul is correct about that. It would make sense that if you wanted more pressure a longer lever will suffice. Apparently not so. A long steel pipe slipped over the original lever will break it under the stress. Or as Paul suggests, this lever could break something else. These presses have severe limitations.

Gerald

All the hardware I can see here is non-original. Is this a press that Alan made from the castings he had produced or one that had all the original hardware swapped out? Personally I’d prefer a press with the original parts even if it was less shiny- I know how they are going to behave over the longterm. Alan- are you sitting on a big stash of used original Pilot press hardware? ;)

I do think the gripper assembly design is a clever solution for those missing the feed board brackets.

Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

I still don’t understand the lack of feed and delivery boards. I think Lou mentioned before that ‘some people don’t want them’ but I’ve never met those people. Having at least the delivery board (and corresponding brackets) in place really make the press more pleasant to use.

I agree with Dan. I’d rather have a press with the original hardware. I can understand a new nut here and there if something is missing, but this looks like every piece has been replaced (down to the platen bolts).

Brad.

And yes… the longer lever is not a solution for more impressional strength. That lever is only one link in the chain… every casting that is actuated by the lever will still be as brittle as 100-year-old cast iron.

If it were my money I’d look elsewhere. Check with T&T Press Restoration or Steve Robinson of Letterpresservation if you’re looking for a nicely restored, original press.

Brad.

This press just popped up on ebay….same pictures.