So I Just Got a New Press .. Pearl UK

there is a pearl group, I’m sure you will be contacted by the group.

I saw it on e-bay, the sellers have got an incomplete Pearl 1 back to life.

That is not a Pearl 1 chase, the latch is sitting on top. The Pearl chase is angled at the top so the latch hooks over.

The feed board brackets are not the original ones and the ink disk pawl mechanism is not original.

If you have used other treadle platens you will find it a bit different , when the connecting rod reaches its highest point, you lose positive contact because the rod is just hooked on and does not bolt on.

Thanks dickg, I have joined!

Thanks Platenprinter, will the stray chase still be ok, I of course would like 100% original but i’m a printer not a collector. For me Im just needing it to run once I have the rollers and trucks. Speaking of which can you recommend a source?

I do have 1 drawer with it but it was left out of shot - I was so excited to share a photo! We’ll see if you think it is an original or not I’ll try to get a pic tomorrow.
Also can anyone name this type for me, its an orphan I picked up and Im still learning when it comes to all things letterpress tbh:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8114381@N02/14430753405/in/photostream/
thanks, Liz.

Looks to be Bradley. Designed by either Hermann Ihlenburg or Joseph Phinney in the 1890s from lettering done by Will Bradley.
—
Michael Hurley
Titivilus Press
Memphis, TN

Wow Mephits thats truly amazing info. Enjoying looking up the history here. That caps H threw me a bit.

With the correct chase the latch at the top pushes the chase into the lugs at the bottom and pulls the chase back to the bed. With the chase supplied it could rock as the rollers pass over or move when an impression is made.
( In the UK they are runners, not trucks)

Thank you once again Platenprinter, your help is greatly appreciated and I’ll keep asking around if theres a chase floating around, which is very doubtful, but you never know - glass half full right.

Just for interest I took some photos of the ink disk pawl:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8114381@N02/14267118749/

Drawer (yes just the 1):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8114381@N02/14473925733/

Connecting rod at the pinnacle of its rotation:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8114381@N02/14430655876/

I forgot to photo the feed board bracket :(

Where in the UK are you located? I’ll have a rummage through the chases to see if I can find one that fits.

That would be amazing if you did have one available platenprinter. Im in Sheffield though.

A little update: shes up and running this week as I got my new rollers from Todds in USA. Fabulous rollers! Shes printing lovely but needed the rods that hold the runners/trucks wiping as the old grease was making them stick a little and the springs were not retracting quickly enough to pull the rollers back so they were floating a little. OK now though.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8114381@N02/14472975980/

Just for future reference, put your quoins at the top not top and bottom, it ensures you get consistent registration. Same on the side, the quoins go on the opposite side to the side lay.

Having removed old dried oil off the roller arms pull each one out to compress the spring and put a small amount of oil on the rod with a rag.

Don’t forget to oil the ink disk spindle, I have just been given an Adana 8x5 to sort out where the spindle is jammed in due to lack of oil.

Oil little and often.

I have a Pearl 1 chase for you, email me your address.

One little extra modification regarding Adana, Ink Disc spindles, but applicable to virtually any similar style M/c. I have been doing it for a long time, i.e whilst the disc and spindle are still free, grip the spindle in a bench vice, (with soft jaws or slip over sleeves) with the spindle horizontal, low in the jaws, file a flat on the length of the spindle at or about 1/8” wide or the same as the band of ink, on the type high test *lollipop* when checking the roller height,?? . . The reason being, (generally) the steel stub, rotating in the (Adana) crap metal base, do not sit well together, usually the disc(s) are removed for wash up, and although sometimes!! oiled up on replacing, tends to leech out quickly, hence frequent siezures, my *flat* ensures, in good part, fighting chance of NOT siezing over longer period,?? if there is appreciable play in the spindle to base there is absolutely NO disadvantage to using a minute amount of *Vaseline* (petroleum jelly) instead of oil.
I have just, 2 nights past, repaired an Adana, with the disc ripped from the spindle, but before re-seating, the stub into the hub of the disc, (with a Roll Pin) a flat was filed on the spindle 90% of the total length, then turned, on the lathe, with an annular groove near the bottom of the stub, but still terminating within the Barrel of the casting, a rubber *O* ring, in the annular groove, ensures (up to a point) oil is retained for a considerable time, even if frequent wash up,s are the norm.!!
Must not stand in judgement on Kelsey, Sigwalt, Adana, Sqintani, Ajax, etc etc etc, designers, from a long time ago, they could not have envisaged the popularity, longevity, and the revival phenomena of these machines.!!

Thanks for this Mick

@platenprinter: thank you, do you know Im not sure why I put them like that where I got that from it just doesnt make sense does it? I will pm you thanks

Mick I am in awe of your technical knowledge and engineering upgrades! in complete honesty though I get a little lost between stub, hub, granular groove and a barrel.

The new/old chase is on Platenprinter:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8114381@N02/14693765745/

:)

The O ring modification is a great idea! But for those not having a lathe there is another approach to ensure lubrication of the ink plate spindle: simply drill a hole (5/32” suggested for the smaller tabletops) through the stub, pack with “StayLube”, saturate with oil until the material won’t absorb any more, then reinsert. The packing will retain oil for months, releasing it through wicking action.. “StayLube” might well be termed something else - depending where it is you reside - but it’s the ‘mush’ most often found in older electric motor bearings prior to sealed bearings taking over the market. Heck, if pushed, felt from an inner sole works well also. :o)

Pixie, G, Apologies for creating confusion with my ramblings, my intentions are well meant, i.e. I try to convey the picture in front of me, to readers of my ramblings, I tend to forget that not all the subscribers have been around as long as me or had the opportunity to *learn/mess about* (take your pick,?)
I also assume (probably incorrectly) that as the newer Devotees have mastered the intracasies (generally) of Letterpress production, some aspects of terminology would be absorbed also, >>Irrelevant? to getting on with the production of Good Printing, just my *Crackpot Thinking*
My sincere apologies, again.!!
I am at this time Turning/Machining an Ink Disc for an Adana, (english) M/c. As one of the *Young Ones* has been Very, Very patient with me and showed , “The Old Goat” (hopefully) how to post pictures on B.P. I will shortly post progressive pictures, of The Disc, and shots of Trucks, I have already produced.!!!
Forme, thank you, Yes nice alternative, and I fully comprehend your, resume, above re Electric Motors.
*Bin there, done that, got the “T” shirt* unfortunately (orobably used it for oil rag)!
Forme, no disrespect? but You gotta be above 35 years old.!! Your *Motors* are at least that far back, and Your *Wicking* action was/is exactly that as used on Our Thompson, Platens,?? Exactly corresponding to Heidleberg,s *One Shot* centralised Lube, system.

Thompson, *Wicks* still now replaced with *Old Boys* tobacco, pipe cleaners, *capillary action, from high up pots/reservoirs, Stay Lube, or Mush, by another name,??
Thanks again, Mick. .
Platen Printer , your comments appreciated also. (Mr.Old Goat)???

Oh I am well above the 35-year mark! I still recall the solemnity of my gradeschool teacher informing the class of the war’s beginning. :o) But the pipe tobacco as oil packing never occured to me; mind you, I once hired a fellow who probably would have smoked it if given opportunity - oil and all. :o) In the Babcock we used the cotton strand from new mop heads. Little money makes for interesting solutions!