Chandler & Price
I’m very lucky to be acquiring this lovely C & P Guillotine (please see photos) and I wondered if anyone can tell me the size of the cutting space on these? I’m hoping it’s larger than 26” to accommodate my paper? Also, do you know if it’s easy to find a new blade and where I may find one as it needs to be replaced? Thanks so much…..
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guillotine.jpg
I don’t want to burst your bubble, but I don’t think you’d be very lucky to acquire this unless there is a stash of parts for it sitting nearby.
Are there some parts for it not shown in these photos?
Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY
It appears from the photos that the cutter is missing the handle and associated mechanism for pulling the blade down for cutting. Unless you have those parts the cutter is basically a piece of interesting sculpture. You’ll need the long handle, the shaft the handle goes on, a short arm on the shaft, and a connecting link between that arm and the end of the cutter blade carrier, at the very least — there should also be a safety lock for the handle when it is in the upright position.
You can get a measurement of the capacity easily — measure the width inside between the side uprights. It looks to me like it could be a 26 inch but may only be a 23 inch. I doubt if it’s larger than 26.
It will also need cleaning up and oiling to ensure good operation. It’s especially important to be sure the bed is clean of rust and waxed with bowling alley wax to ensure the paper can be moved around in the cutter easily. The blade also needs to be clean as well as sharp.
Bob
Hi Bob, thank you for your excellent feedback. May I ask you your advice; I’m relocating to London very shortly so I’m just wondering if it is worthwhile actually taking this piece with me…. do you think I could find all of the missing parts? I haven’t seen many of these guillotines come up at all over the past couple of years so I’m thinking the blade may be fine to replace, however, if I’m not able to get the handle and shaft, perhaps I shouldn’t take it. I am going to be working in a much smaller studio I’m sure so am weighing up whether it is worth getting. It will be given to me from a museum; otherwise it will go to scrap metal which breaks my heart; but I also need to be sensible and sure that I can get it in good working order……. thank you for any advice you can offer. Susie
Thank you Daniel, I’ve just seen your reply; I don’t think it comes with those parts so yes, I’m thinking you may be right! Thank you, Susie