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Where is it from?

A Manufacturer Boston, United States
B Past Owner Cleveland, United States

Printing Press - Chandler & Price Treadle Clam Shell Platen, Old Style Reg. No: ST 044212

Summary:: This letterpress platen was manufactured by Chandler and price, Cleveland, Ohio, USA between 1903 and 1904.

Letterpress is a term used to define the process of printing from a raised surface, be it type or block. The term takes it origins from the act of pressing a letter onto another substance, usually paper.

Setting type by hand is known as 'composing the type'.

The type is taken letter by letter and placed into a 'setting stick' -- a wood or metal tray held in one hand and the words are built into lines of type of a set width.

The lines are then put together to make a page inside a metal frame called a "chase". Spaces in amongst the page are filled with wooden or metal "furniture". The furniture is level with the surfaces of the type blocks so as not to pick up any ink. The spaces between the chase walls and the page are filled with expandable "quoins". Quoins, when tightened, lock all the type and furniture securely within the chase (now called a "forme").

The forme is placed on the press and printing commenced.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Victoria: Government Printing Office

Discipline:	Technology
Dimensions:	127 cm (Height), 82 cm (Width), 136 cm (Length)
Weight:	45 kg (Weight)
Dimension Comment:	LENGTH IS AT FULL EXTENSION. L95 CM WHEN PRESS PLATE CLOSED. Historical dimensions: Known as an 8" x 12" press. The area that could be printed was the internal measurements of the chase. The same applies to all platen presses

More information

Tagged with:	printing equipment, printing presses, poop
Themes this item is part of:	Letterpress Printing, Information & Communication Collection
Primary Classification:	COMMUNICATIONS
Secondary Classification:	Printing
Tertiary Classification:	printing presses
Inscriptions:	Serial number: 40381 (The serial number can be found at top right of the bed.) Cast on rocker: Chandler & Price Cast on roller bearer at rear: The Chandler & Price Co Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Manufacturer:	Golding Manufacturing Co, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Past Owner:	Chandler & Price, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America

Comments

sharon Posted on 26 Jan 2010 12:36 PM

I discovered an small cyclostyle printing press in an antique store yesterday. It was a flat plate approx A4 size that looked like stone but may have been metal with a decal and a piece of "paper or perhaps silk" over the top. It was self contained in a wooden box ith the old brayer (severely bad condition) and the printers ink in another section.
Do you know anything about this style process? I gather it is a stencil not lithographic as I though at first.

Discovery Centre Posted on 06 Feb 2010 12:20 PM

Hi Sharon, thanks for the enquiry. Our History and Technology Curator has suggested you may want to Google 'cyclostyle' or perhaps visit the Melbourne Museum of Printing, details can be found here http://home.vicnet.net.au/~typo/

Linda Hardin Posted on 27 Mar 2010 2:10 AM

The Library has an old Chandler & Price paper cutter that I think might date back to the 30s or 40s when the Library had its own print shop. It is made of blond wood and has a very large cutting blade. Can you tell me anything about this paper cutter?

Discovery Centre Posted on 30 Mar 2010 10:10 AM

Hi Linda - Museum Victoria offers a free identification service. To send an enquiry, click on the 'Ask the experts' link below and then on 'Identifications' in the menu at left. Please provide us with images of the paper cutter and, prior to sending us your enquiry, please read our identification guidelines.

Carol Wohl Posted on 23 Jun 2010 11:30 PM

I have a Chandler & Price hand-cranked black metal press. Looks similar to the "New Series" hand-fed obbing platen introduced in 1911. I am interested in selling it. If that is possible, I will try to turn it over to find a Reg. No. but it is very heavy to do so. I can also take a photo. Is a sale possible? Thank you.

Discovery Centre Posted on 26 Jun 2010 12:57 PM

Hi Carol, Museum Victoria relies heavily on the generosity of the public. We have a very small acquisitions budget and tend to accept objects through donation rather than sales.

T Asclip Posted on 28 Sep 2010 11:09 PM

Hi Carol,
I'd be interested in purchasing your press if it's still up for sale. Can I please have your email address to contact you directly?
Thank you.

Steve Posted on 25 Jul 2011 8:51 AM

My mother has a Chandler and Price. It is dated stamped 1890. It was in good working order until my father passed away in 1988. Who would be interested in having it?

Annabel Posted on 02 Aug 2011 2:42 PM

Hi Steve,
If you still have the Chandler & Price machine available I would love to chat to you about a possible purchase.

Peter mccabe Posted on 11 Aug 2011 7:04 PM

Have just found an old kelsey printer and found this site very helpfull. Regards.peter. Thorpdale. Australia.

Jim Harolds Posted on 04 Nov 2011 6:22 PM

Im having trouble commenting. lets see if this one gets through. What year is that old kelsey you founf Peter mccabe?