Help identifying Letter Press

looks a lot like a Golding, maybe when John Falstrom wakes up he’ll chime in.

I suspect it’s a Sigwalt, though the handle is not the same as my Nonpareil and may be a modification — what size chase does it have (or does it have one)? Comparing with other objects in the photos I am guessing it’s a 4x6. It looks to have been modified for some kind of special production, with the odd replacement platen I can’t see very well. Are there two more holes for bolts below the two that show and are holding the block? It looks to me like there is a shallow concave spot between the bolts that was a feature of Sigwalt’s Nonpareil series. (See photo of my 6x9 Nonpareil’s platen) If it’s a Sigwalt there should be a number stamped into the top center of the bed below the rim of the ink disc.

My guess is restoration to its original function as a printing press will be difficult if you don’t have the original platen or chase, as those both will be hard to find. The ink disc pawl is missing but something could be rigged up for that.

Bob

6x9SigwaltNonpareilPlaten.jpg

Yawnnn……. what time is it? Why didn’t you wake me Dick? Bob is spot on I believe. A Sigwalt Nonpareil. As already noted, the rocker has been cut in half, the proper platen is missing entirely, the handle is from another press or has been modified beyond recognition. The roller hook springs and trucks are also clues for this size press being a Sigwalt, not a Golding. Although both of those items are easily replaced, having both correct for Sigwalt is telling. You’re probably going to have to purchase another press to get everything you need.

JF

I’d be interested to know what is on the surface of the block that’s bolted on where the platen was (and I didn’t notice that the top part of the rocker was cut off — or maybe broken off?). I’ve been trying to figure out how this adaptation would have been used — it looks like someone’s re-purposing of the press for some other use, like stamping something on bound book covers or thick pieces of wood. I was looking at the handle and thinking maybe the original handle end was machined to take the stirrup, which looks like it might be bolted on. Very strange!

Bob

Darn, I was hoping this was going to be the perfect opportunity to get rid of this Golding platen.

Mr. Falstrom, might you have any use for this doorstop? It measures about 7 x 10 inches. I believe I’ve already sent the leveling bolts your way.

Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

It looks configured similarly to a press I once had that was set up for printing jewelry boxes.

Paul

Dan, hang onto it, i’m sure the rest of it is floating around somewhere, lets check our spare parts and see if we can help Dan build this press.

Dick,
I guess what I failed to mention is another part of this press IS still here. It is my ACTUAL doorstop. Everything else I could pull off of this press I sent to John Falstrom, but this platen was forgotten soaking in a 5 gallon bucket of Evapo-Rust. Sometimes I see rust and just can’t help myself…

Dan

see, you are off to a good start, in a few months you might have a working press.

I believe we have the pieces one would need to resurrect this Ideal #5. Drop us a line…
Tom
tandtpressrestoration.com

More spam, but as as a San Franciscan, I want to apologize for the many recent spam links for “SF limos”. These limo swine park alll around my neighborhood waiting for the next call from an IT millionaire going farther than their little legs can pedal on their bike. Even millionaires can’t afford to put in a garage in their house here if there isn’t one there already. And apparently taxis just aren’t responsive enough for our super-elite. Crazy city in a crazy world. And this really used to be a PRINTING town.
Can the list owners give us a panic button to report such obvious violations of list integrity?

parallel_imp, and everyone:

You got it. Now you can use the flag icon attached to each comment to bring spam and other abuse to our attention.

Flagging comments has been a long-needed and much-requested feature. This and other modern touches will be included in version 6 of the site, now under development.

Eric