Articles about Shop Equipment

Copy Press 1

While the copy press is not a letterpress, it is an important part of any well-outfitted print shop. Copy presses (also known as book or nipping presses) were traditionally used as primitive copying machines; modern-day uses include pressing water out of handmade paper and drying flowers. How did a copy … Continue reading

Cutter, German

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Linen Stamp

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Little Model

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Office Stamp

This metal office stamp is included in the Museum because it uses metal type for printing, not the usual rubber type so common in the later stamps, although the type is short type, only about 3/8″ high. The stamp pictured was made in 1871 and has a screw that holds … Continue reading

Padding Press

This padding press is used to make pads of paper. A board is placed at either side of a stack of paper, which is placed into the padding press. The side-screw on the press is tightened to hold the sheets of paper firmly together. Padding glue is applied to one … Continue reading

Pearl Stamp

Called “The Pearl,” this stamp most likely does not have any relation to the popular presses of the same name made by William Golding (see Pearl OS No.1). This small stamp operates in much the same way as does a waffle iron, imprinting a honeycomb-pattern into a piece of paper. … Continue reading

Peerless Gem Paper Cutter

This beautiful piece of machinery is a 23-inch hand-operated Peerless Gem paper cutter. It was made by the Peerless Printing Press Co. of Palmyra, New York. Excluding the handle, it is 38″ wide by 48″ deep. The height to the top of the handle is about 60″, and the cutter … Continue reading

Rosback Foot Power Perforator

Frederick Peter Rosback was a machinist and inventor. In 1881 he started the Rosback Company in Chicago with the invention of a foot-powered tool for the bindery that could perforate paper with small metal pins. It was used to create paper that could tear easily such as stock certificates, stamps, … Continue reading

Rouse Lead & Rule

Another lovely, strange machine from H.B. Rouse & Company of Chicago. Thin strips of lead used between lines of type; and rules, type-high strips of brass or type-metal used for printing borders or lines, can be purchased in precut lengths. Do-it-yourselfers use a machine like the Rouse Lead & Rule … Continue reading

Rouse Miterer

This curious machine from H.B. Rouse & Company, Chicago, is used when making corners on lead or rule strips. While the Rouse Lead and Rule is used for making straight cuts, the miterer adds a bevel or angle where two pieces will be joined perpendicularly, such as in the creation … Continue reading

Standing Press

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