This is a 1913 Golding Official No. 12 Map press.  It has a chase size of 8″x12″ for doing almost any size work you desire.  It has a long side handle for great impression strength.  It has been thoroughly cleaned and adjusted to be in printing condition.  It comes with one chase, a set of composition rollers, two sets of trucks, and my newly created letterpress adjustment gauge.  For those unfamiliar, Golding is considered one of the best to own.  They are solidly built and capable of the finest work.  This model is unique in that it works differently than most.  Instead of the platen moving up to the bed, the bed moves down to the platen.  This design was used for printing on large sheets of paper such as “maps” hence the name map press.  Today, it is particularly well suited to the polymer plate user as it can lock up and print large forms and the platen is horizontal right in front of you making it easier to set gauge pins, feed paper, and generally observe what is happening as you print.  I have fabricated new trucks for this press to better match the rollers which are 1.5″ in diameter.  I am including the metal trucks that came with the press as well.  This press is large, weighing in at about 175lbs.  It is however, one of the lightest you can purchase to achieve an 8″ x12″ chase size.  It is on the original board which has a wonderful patina and is often long since gone.  It does not have its grippers, but, on a map press, they are not needed(gauge pins are enough to hold paper).  The price is $1395.00 which also includes an Introduction to Letterpress lesson by yours truly if you are able to take advantage of the offer.  The press is located in my shop in Lyme, CT.  There is easy access from Route 95.     Phone:  860-434-3194  Email:  john.falstrom@att.net  This press has been sold, thank you.

NEW Roller and Platen adjusting gauge!

A word about my new gauge.  As I visit  Briar Press I often read how new enthusiasts have difficulty adjusting their presses.  The two main issues are proper inking, and even impression.  I decided to try to do something about it.  One gauge already existed which is for measuring proper roller height.  It is nicknamed the lollypop because of its shape.  I couldn’t find any gauge to help adjust the evenness of the platen.  I like gauges!  My new dual gauge addresses both of these issues.  On one end is a white lollypop which is used to set roller height for proper inking.  It is very easy to use and the ink stripe you create is very easy to see against the white color.  In addition however, I have added two black platen height gauges that can be adjusted to fit any size platen press up an 8″x12″ or there abouts.  These black pieces are adjusted with the thumbscrew to be in a top and bottom corner of your platen.  You can also adjust them to be in diagonal corners.  You simply loosen the lock nuts on the platen and turn the screw in until you get one side of the platen evenly adjusted against the two black cylinders.  Repeat this on the other side, then recheck the first side.  You do this without ink, chase, or packing on the press.  The cylinders are sized so that after adjustment, and you add a normal packing to the press you are very close to proper and even impression.  It is especially helpful if you want to disassemble your press for cleaning and need to get it back into specs to prevent harming type or plates.  It is made of brass and delrin so there is nothing to rust or corrode.  Purchase your own here.

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