Any info on this D cylinder etching press would be awesome

I cannot understand why a proofing press would have such a large flywheel and be so solidly built.

It seems capable of smash printing and type flattening both at the same time!

Maybe it’s for making flongs?
Roger

Etching press prints from engravings which require a great deal of pressure.

Duplicate

I agree etching presses provide a lot of pressure but, even so, this would be the (exceptionally) sturdiest etching press I have ever seen!

I can’t argue with that, but I’d love to own one!

Engraving presses that print engraved stationery from flat plates are usually hydraulic, with a flat bed and plate, and they are at least equally as massive as this press, but you’d need some way to fix the dies and paper in place for a cylinder press.

Thanks for the feedback. I am part way through a full tear-down on this machine, so here are a few pics as I unseize, clean, de -rust and reassemble. The press is very heavy, particularly the D cylinder, table, and support roller beneath the table. So far nothing was totally stuck, and it is cleaning up well .

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More parts after cleaning

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Table support roller

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Side frames removed ready for clean up. I hope to start reassembly this weekend.

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Printer Ken A, a search here at briar press on a Kelton etching press. Yes and industrial press is very beefy best james

With everything degreased, derusted and selective parts burnished and polished, the press is back together. Quite a challenge as it got heavier and heavier..

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With everything degreased, derusted and selective parts burnished and polished, the press is back together. Quite a challenge as it got heavier and heavier..

Ready for the table.

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One two, skip a few, 99, 100

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The next thing is to try it out. Thinking about etching or engraving some PCB copper clad board for a cheap try out

Congrats. Nicely done! :o)

Thanks! More soon when we’ve had chance to play.

In the clean and rebuild process I found no sign of a makers name. Some parts were stamped with the number 91, but that could mean anything. Age wise, one possible clue is that the cylinder has precision self aligning ball bearings. I suspect that means more modern than we first thought, maybe 20’s to 40’s?

I don’t remember if it was here or the letterpress list (the site now unavailable to US locations) but I remember posts about these presses, with photos of them in production environments, at places like maybe the GPO.

Printer K A, yer gunna need felts, damp to the touch rag paper, a can of patience and blotters and boards! Oh yeah and fresh tarlatan. best j

Thanks. We knew about felts, as the press had an old set before the reconditioning. As for the other items, I appreciate the guidance. Do you have a source for patience? ;-)