Another Press to Identify

Hi all,

Need some help with this one. No markings to be seen. Just thought to be very old and got to NZ somehow.

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Looks like a stereotype caster, not a press. The top pivots, right?

Yes Bill, the top lifts up from the handle on the right and pivots on the open hinges until the two tabs on the top left stop it going too far back.

One possibility.! . . Red Herring perhaps.
Suspiciously like a Nipping Press and/or Handmade Paper press (from the powerful looking Clamp screw and the Heavy webs to the 4 edges ???) From the apparent length of travel on the lead screw. Etc..

It is definitely a stereotype casting box. Used for casting duplicate printing plates from paper mats which have been impressed with the image of the original plates.

The mats were distributed by national advertisers to local newspaper shops as they were much lighter to ship than heavy plates.

The casts could be made type-high or as shell casts which would be mounted on a base to be type-high for the press.

John Henry

For reference, at one point, most newspapers had one of these. It’s how ads were distributed in the hot metal days…

In the US, the Hammond Easy-caster was the most common.

Watch this video from 11 minutes in to see how a casting box is used.

http://www.briarpress.org/43156

It won’t let me watch the movie since I’m in the US. Anyway for me to watch this? Would love to see it.

That is a great find! It is both a stereo caster and mat maker. I don’t see any bearer bars, but they are easily manufactured. Now all that’s needed are mats and flong. :o)
And yes, it was indeed one method of advertisement distribution; far less expensive mailing stereo mats than shipping metal. Can someone identify another common method? Union shops demanded it. :o)