Buying our first press
Hello! We are new to letterpress and will be buying our first press soon. We are interested in the press below- would it be good for a beginner? And what would be a good price?
Schniedewend and Lee old style Gordon Platen press. 8x12 printing area. Comes with 3 rollers and a 9x6 deep relief base from Boxcar Press. Custom digital, adjustable motor.. Has two Chandler & Price chases with quoins and key. Deck built on both sides, making it easy for mounting rollers.
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looks good to me. price on these sort of presses range from- get it out of my garage for free, to maybe 6-800. someone correct me if this is a collectible and worth more.
The S&L press is in unknown but rather scruffy condition, so in its present state it is difficult to evaluate whether it will serve your needs. I do not see a treadle; a motorized platen job press is not a good press on which to learn letterpress printing, more likely for learning the best route to the emergency room (smashed fingers). For your first press I strongly recommend something like a C&P Pilot or a Sigwalt Ideal 6x9 tabletop. The process is the same, but the safety and control features are much better for learning. Also, I suggest learning letterpress printing using conventional type and wood-mounted cuts rather than photopolymer - which is much more demanding of knowledge and patience in preparing the press.
Bob
If you would like to tell us (roughly at least) where you are located, perhaps one of us can give you some in-person advice and/or basic training. I have done that before. It is my contribution to keep the art of letterpress alive :)