Bonanza, 1880 - 1900

The Bonanza press was distributed, and likely manufactured, by Ives, Blakeslee (later Ives Blakeslee Williams). This company dealt in novelties and was the principal company for distributing rail presses at the end of the nineteenth century. Rail presses were simple cast-iron toys, sold for about one dollar. The took full-size, or later half-length, type. They were produced in large quantities and varieties between about 1880 and 1900, when they began to give way to presses made for rubber type. This Bonanza press is mounted on a base.