Triumph Proof Press

I just picked up this press and was curious if anyone knows anything about it. This is a Triumph Proof press, bed size is about 13x32” out to the absolute ends. 13x29.5” should be about the usable limit. The base appears to belong to an old Chandler and Price free roller proof press, but it fits well enough.

Interestingly the press bed is aluminum, and appears to be galley height. I took it completely apart and am working on cleaning up the small parts and repainting some pieces. I should be able to fashion a magnetic bed plate from cold rolled steel. Roller is in fine condition after a wipe down. This appears very similar to the Nolan proof presses, but I can’t find much info about Triumph presses at all.

Brent

image: 1.jpg

1.jpg

image: 2.jpg

2.jpg

image: 3.jpg

3.jpg

Log in to reply   4 replies so far

American Wood Type’s catalogue for 1958-59 shows Triumph proof presses in 3 sizes. “An excellent low price proof press for the small print shop. Made of aluminoid, lighter than cast iron but just as strong.” Yours appears to be model C, 55 lbs. without cabinet at $130. “Takes good proofs of any form from a single line to full length galleys, up to 12.5 x 31 in. “A simple line cut shows it with a Triumph name plate, but not the end stops on the bearers. Noted as F.O.B. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Triumph also made a trimmer saw, also shown by Am. Wood Type.

Sorry for a double. By the way, the Nolan proof press in the same catalogue was about the same price.

Very interesting Darrell! Placing that price in an inflation calculator puts it at about $1,200, which is actually quite close to the selling price ive seen on Nolan’s and proof presses of similar design to this. Look’s like you are correct on the model, that is the proper dimensions for this press. Does the catalog mention it being a galley height press?
The weight makes it delightfully easy to pick up and move, I could see this being a great portable option to take to events, if I ever decide to do that. Thanks for the help!

Also interesting that the Nolan was a similar price. I believe the Nolan’s have a steel or cast iron bed, so the weight is much higher. Looking at an old Nolan catalog, this triumph is larger than the Nolan 1, yet about half the weight.

I’ll post some more photos when I have the press rebuilt, it is cleaning up quite nicely, just waiting to paint a few parts and hard wax the bed and a few critical parts I want to stay rust free.