Platen presses -- History

Overview

The Baltimore line of presses by Baumgarten & Co. were produced to exactly parallel J.F.W. Dorman's line of Baltimorean presses. These presses were small, marketed to businessmen to bypass the conventional printer, or to amateur printers and children.

Overview 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...

Overview 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...

Overview

The identification of this press is not entirely certain, but it seems to be the Centennial Press manufactured by Joseph Watson of New York in the 1870s. It also bears some resemblence to similar presses, such as the Baltimorean No. 1 or No. 2, the Official, and the Young American Press.

Overview

The Craftsmen Imperial Tabletop Press was produced around 1950 by the Craftsmen Machinery Company. This company produced presses very similar to those made during the small-press era of the 1800s. The Imperial was a tabletop model.

Overview

The Curtis & Mitchell Columbian No. 2 Tabletop Platen Press was produced between 1878 and the 1890s. The name Columbian was used for a variety of press styles, but the Curtis & Mitchell model was a jobbing platen press.

Overview The Daisy 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...

Overview

The Daughaday Model 1 Improved Tabletop Platen Press was manufactured around 1874. In the mid-1800s, small platen presses manufactured for the use of amateur printers gained popularity. The Model style of press went in a different direction encouraging amateurs to enter the commercial world with a larger press. The Model was available in seven size variants, four hand-operated and three treadle-operated. The no. 1 is a tabletop model.

Overview

Daughaday manufactured jobbing platen presses from 1874 to 1900. Around this time, small platen presses manufactured for the use of amateur printers gained popularity. The Model style of press went in a different direction encouraging amateurs to enter the commercial world with a larger press. The Model was available in seven size variants, four hand-operated and three treadle-operated. The no. 3 is a freestanding model suitable for small booklet and flyer work.

Overview

William A. Kelsey started making inexpensive presses for amateurs in 1872 to challenge the three existing amateur presses (the Lowe, the Cottage, and the Novelty). Kelsey's Excelsior became the longest-lasting press on the market, produced until 1990. The basic for was settled by 1874, although the style of the body changed many times.