1st Press
I just bought my first press at auction. Without seeing the press in person. Granted, I don’t know enough about press condition to validate buying one without seeing it in person, but it was a decent deal.
I have to ship it from Eden Prairie, MN to Spokane, WA.
**Any advise on reliable crating and shipping companies (they will have to do absolutely all of the preparation for shipping)?
This was the only info provided about the press:
Brown & Bigelo Clam Shell Machine
Serial Number 18232
21 - 441
4’ Wide X 64” Deep X 5’ Tall
Seller States in Working Order
**I cannot find any info about Brown & Bigelo except that they printed calendars. Does anyone know anything about this company? Could they have manufactured a piece on the press?
I want to use it for printing/ink (not die cutting or foil… just printing for now). I don’t know if it has all of the parts to do so. I do see that it is missing rollers….
Does anyone see anything else that is missing?
The press was used at a plastic printing company so I am not sure what modifications they have made to it.
Someone has a sign on it that says “Do Not Use This Machine”. Not comforting, but will confront this warning when I get the press.
Please, if you have any words of wisdom, kind advise or knowledge of issues that I might encounter with this press based on the photos… please share.
Thanks.
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I am certainly not an expert on these matters, but I am quite certain that is a bog standard Chandler & Price old style press. In fact in photo ‘oops8’ you can almost read the name that normally appears on the back of the press:
CHANDLER & PRICE
CLEVELAND OHIO
Yes, I saw that too! My guess/hope was that the auction company tends to mislabel items that they do not know much about.
Aside from rollers, the press appears to be intact for the purposes of printing. It even has a full width ink fountain, which might come in handy.
The ‘Do Not Use’ sign probably has more (or everything) to do with OSHA regulations than with the function of the press. As the rules got more and more strict, it became more and more difficult to operate a platen press in a manner considered safe by modern safety standards.
It looks like the press may be bolted to the floor, and the bits and pieces related to the motor speed control are definitely bolted to the floor. Hopefully whoever you find will come prepared to disconnect the various pieces from each other and from the building, and package them up separately for safe transport.
Good luck!
keelan is right, I think its a chandler & price old style ( it has curved spokes on the flywheel which indicates an old style) THERE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE A CHASE IN THE PRESS BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM FINDING ONE FOR THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY COMMON. AS FOR ROLLERS YOU CAN GET THEM FROM rAMCO rOLLER IN California. lIKE kEELAN SAYS HOPE WHOEVER CRATES THE PRESS FOR YOU INCLUDES THE SPEED CONTROL WITH IT.
the brown & bigelow plate is just an asset-property tag. the press is definitely a Chandler & Price (what vintage tbd by those with more experience\info) fingers crossed that you get all pieces and arrives intact enjoy
Ted Lavin
Contact Bob Williams, Total Export 612-788-9777
www.totalexport.net
Total Export, Minneapolis Minnesota Export Packing and Crating, Custom Wood Crates and Skids.
This firm does all of our crating for export. They can handle the job of preparing the press for shipment.
Tom
www.tandtpressrestoration.com
A few other things—no rollers because this press has been used for diecutting. The die plate (looks like 3 of them) is sitting under the do not use sign on the delivery table, there are round die cut pieces of paper under the press, and knowing that Brown & Bigelow is still in business and one of their main products has been calendars, this press was probably used in one part of speciality work done on calendars. The guarding on the press is somewhat crude and there because of OSHA requirements as previously stated. It does have the C&P motor mount for the drive motor and that is a plus. The serial number stamped in the press bed will lead to the year of manufacture. I’m surprised that presses of this vintage were still in a large and well known printing business.
Thank you for all the feed back everyone! This has been very reassuring.
Tom: I contacted Total Export, they are in the process of helping me with the move. They have been incredibly helpful and patient with my situation! Thank you so much for suggesting them :)
Joslin,
Glad to be here, proud to serve… I called Bob,
on other business and closed the loop. I am delighted Total Export provided the help you were looking for. This is a no B.S. firm offering outstanding service at a fair price.
Press owners,
To move a floor model press from anywhere to where you want it, give them a call, request a quote, know what you are in for… before pulling the trigger.
Tom
www.pressrestoration.com