help to figure out if it is a good purchase

Hi everybody, my name is Alessandro.
This is the first time I write on the blog because most of the posts I read were very useful.

I would like to start to print with an old letterpress machine and I found a very nice “Pedalina” but I would like to figure out if is missing something to print and if it is a good machine.
I upload only 3 photos, sorry for that.
I can understand that it is very difficult to say something about seeing only 3 photos, but I can not do more.
I believe that a trained eye can do more than I expect.
In the first picture you can see the 2 missing rollers below the letterpress and them should set on the top of the press (the seller said that).
I really like this press and I would like to figure out if it is a good purchase.
Thanks very much to everybody.
Ale

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Whatever else you may ask along the way i doubt if impressional strength queries will be one of them!

It does look like a very strong press, apparently based on the Thompson Laureate or similar press. I do not see in your photos any carrier for the ink rollers — roller arms or carriage that runs vertically from the bottom of the bed to the ink cylinder at the top. The press also seems to be missing the ink fountain. Has it been used only for die-cutting by the current owner? Perhaps the inking mechanism has been removed and is still available? Also, the press is motorized — not the best choice for a beginner.

Bob

Ale, it is a Schelte und Giesecke machine from Leipzig. If you’re in Europe, you won’t have a problem in finding information about this machine. The museum in Leipzig has a lot of stuff. By the way, it is a ‘printing press’ and not a ‘letterpress’. Letterpress is the technique, like offset and lithography. You should have several rollers on the top, above the metal cylinder, but there should also be a set of forme rollers, that ink the forme. If you can get the press for a good price, it might be worth buying it and getting it working again. Good luck. More photos would be better, I can’t see the details well enough.

p.s. The distribution rollers drop into the slot above the cylinder.
Here is the address of the museum in Leipzig: http://www.druckkunst-museum.de

The line of platens made by Schelter & Giesecke was called Phoenix. This is one of the smaller jobbing models with two form rollers, the roller carriage is now in the lower position. The ink fountain is there too, under a cover plate.
The knob near the left knee of the operator is the roller check. As you cycle the press the roller carriage will lift up to the inking drum. With the knob pulled out, the carriage will remain in the upper position; knob in, the carriage will cycle up and down.
The sliding piece in the middle of the back of the platen is the impression adjustment, up for more impression, down for less. To be on impression that long bar with the knob in the middle (right now hanging below the platen) is locked into the impression adjustment slider, to be off impression pull the knob and let it the bar drop.

Here a link to a 1907 catalouge from Schelter & Giesecke showing theier platens
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bogtrykkeren/3743860354/in/set-721576216408...
Lovely press, but as a newbee and with all the missing parts I wouldn’t go for it.
Gott grüß die Kunst
Jens

Hi everyone!

Has anyone had an experiences with changing the high power motor to a 220 V motor in such a press?

Thanks,
Ana

I would not think it difficult to find someone who can train you up progressively, you will get visible/heavy etc impression if that is what you want, with a press that can run relatively slowly if set up properly, if you can test/ascertain with someone on a similar press your printing skills eg inking, feeding, registration etc to see if you have an aptitude/ skills base with which to feel comfortable with a press like this. Similar presses in Uk you might be able to arrange training on if not available in europe.

It doesn’t look like there is much missing from this press. It would be good to make certain they have a chase and take a look around for other “stuff” like the roller trucks, etc.

Beginner or expert, the press appears to be a good solid press.

Well, the press seems to miss all its rollers for the inking system and its chase. But besides that, it has no safety shield/emergency stop (as on the later models) protecting your fingers and hands if you forget to remove them before the press make its impression.
If some one calls a C&P for a Aligator this is a Tyrannosaurus Rex – be careful!
Gott grüß die Kunst
Jens

Thank you for all your answers!

@ Peter Luckhurst:
impressional strength is one of characteristic that I want from it.
Thank you Peter.

@ AdLibPress:
I’m sure there are rollers arms. You can’t see them because they are in low position.
The ink fountain is the rectangular box with a button in the middle.
The owner used it I think only for printing.
In the second picture the motor is situated on the right to the bottom.
Thank you Bob for your considerations.

@ thomas:
thank you Thomas for your posts and the link!
Could be the forme rollers the stuff on the bottom wrapped in the white paper?
The seller told me about those 2 rollers, they should be positioned on the top, above the metallic cylinder.

@ parallel_imp:
Thank you parallel for your technical explanation.

A question for you,
Are you thinking nothing are missing?

@ bogtrykkeren:
interesting link, thank you.

thank you everybody for all your posts!!!

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Ale ,
there should be a handful of 1 1/2” clumps of steel that go on the ends of the rolllers and slide into those slots at the top of the press are they present in a box somewhere ???
I am sure our continental poster will pick up on this and explain if this press required them ,personally i would think the old girl had them as the rollers would have a bearing of sorts albeit very basic . ou may be well advised to ask to beak around for the bearers or trucks as they are also known , they will look a bit like a mushroom and made of brass or steel .