H.S Cropper 9x14 Help!

Hello amazing experts -

I am a Bookbinder turned Hobby Letterpress Amateur. I managed to acquire a strange H.S Cropper 9x14 treadle letterpress from an Antiques closing down sale. Its in great condition with only the slightest bit of rust.

Im pretty sure it is a 9x14? The chase (measured from the outer edge) is 15.25 x 9.5 inches? I cant find much info on this size chase…

It has a very odd spider chase(?) and a 3 discs within 1 large disc rotating ink plate!

I would really appreciate any help/guidance in how this triple disc rotating ink plate may affect my printing and what on earth it was made for?

Also, I realise 9x14 may be an odd size and would love some help finding a chase to purchase as the spider chase does not give me many options…

I am very new to this and trying my best but I am feeling quite daunted by my odd press and what to do next..

I am from Brisbane, Australia.

Thank you all in advance

image: spider.jpeg

spider.jpeg

Log in to reply   5 replies so far

more experienced people will give you more thorough advice, but basically the triple disk will give you more even inking, the spider chase will be v useful for small things, these are increasingly rare and you have a god one. British Printing Society has a forum you could post on also, check out. Other posts are on Briar about getting your own chases made and making sure they lock in to your press, also web sites with references to essential reading, youtube etc, best is to find a local printer for local “training”. Finding spare/surplus chases to fit exactly could be difficult and time consuming.

K D As jonathon implies the triple disc arrangement gives far better, and faster, ink distribution from start to finish for inking the form, the contra rotating system is approaching very efficient!!!
The Cropper was made in Nottingham, U.K. in 2/3/4 sizes, including 9” x 14”, fairly unique now, by virtue of the fact that so many have been scrapped, which makes many Very Sad!!!
The Spider chase is, as Jonathan says useful, but to think of re manufacturing or sourcing another, is not so important for 2/3 reasons, saving on furniture, for lock up, consequently stronger lock up, and possibly the main point, which is, and has been well documented, with the size of the machine in mind, the expected/anticipated impression capacity, that may be expected, the age of the machine(s) etc etc etc, >>expecting to achieve more than, At Best??? 60-65% of the usable chase area, Was/Is impracticle, well documented on B.P. Broken Levers, Broken Castings, and more!!!
Therefore having a chase that can be filled, Full Out would appear to be a retrograde step.
Obviously with the odd exception i.e in the case of a certificate in 2 colours whereby the Border is only going to utilise say, 5% of the impression capacity, no problem.??
How Many like that do you anticipate, printing, requiring a full out chase, unless you have *shed loads of money*???
There is a fair amount of info, on Google and B. P. re Cropper,s inc. Copies, Origins and more. Good Luck.

This would be a “minerva” that you possess, dont knock your chase for its inadequacies i have been looking for one for mine for years !!. Yours is bigger i think however !.

this www has links to several letterpress printers in Au-
http://www.weloveletterpress.com/interviews

You might find a chase lurking in the nearby undergrowth :)
As on eBay UK at the moment.

image: Cropper chases.JPG

Cropper chases.JPG