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EXCELSIOR PRESS HOME | PRESSES AVAILABLE
C&P 10x15 needing a buyer or rescue - Chandler & Price New-series 10x15 serial number C65742 - manufactured towards the end of 1923.  The
printer, Mason Hale, was best known as a
botanist at The Smithsonian Institute and used
this press to print a  variety of items including
informational display cards for lichen samples on
display at the Smithsonian. At one time he had three presses in operation here in the basement of his home in suburban Alexandria, Virginia. (the C&P along with a 5x8 Kelsey and a 7x10 1/2 Daughaday Model #4) He also dabbled in publishing in Sanskrit as well. His font library included 38 fonts in 10 faces - including some Sanskrit with which he hand-set and printed Aesop's Fables and other works of interest. Mason Ellsworth Hale, Jr. (September 23, 1929 � April 23, 1990) was one of the most prolific lichenologists of the 20th century. - Wikipedia.org Mr. Hale published more than 150 studies, including five books on lichens. In his 33 years at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, Mr. Hale built the lichen collection at the natural history museum into the world's third largest. - NY Times This press was lightly used in his basement until about 25 years ago. I  t's clean and in good shape -
needs rollers & a drive rod for the ink fountain
& some minor cleaning - and likely a good oiling,
but otherwise everything works. Mr. Hale has passed away
and his widow has found good homes for all of the
type and other items of his shop - except for this large
press.  It includes a full
ink fountain, a brake and a good little Leland Electric
Motor. Looks like mechanical variable speed, but there
is also a crankshaft that can accept a treadle &
hook ($150-200) for slower speed foot-powered operation.
 This press also has a nicely made but apparently "after market" solid wooden flywheel foot brake mounted on a very solid block of wood. Looks like it should work well. But t  he press is in the basement and
will need to be partially disassembled (remove
feedboards, throw-off assy, flywheel, drivewheel
& crankshaft & side arms. Then split into two
units at bed shaft at base of press) and moved out
of the basement and up 6 concrete steps to
street level. This should be a relatively easy
basement move that could be accomplished safely in less
than three hours. After
dis-assembly, the press will be narrowed to 27" wide and
will have to fit through a 30" door, be turned 90 degrees
and then ramped up these 6 - 36" wide new concrete steps.
A vehicle or trailer can be positioned at the top of the
steps for loading as well as to serve as an anchor for a
chain-hoist or winch. Press cannot be removed in one
piece.Press appears to be in very good to excellent condition Press is as-is in
Alexandria, VA. Moves smoothly.
Needs oil, rollers and a bit of tlc.
Pleasecontact
us
to make an offer and discuss moving of this press I travel to this area once a month. While in the area, I would be available for one day, for a fee of $250, to disassemble this press in place. For an additional $100, I can either meet with buyer and advise on/supervise loading onto a U-Haul 5x8 ramp trailer, or document each step of disassembly and post details online. Dis-assembly, removal, moving & reassembly & setup value approx. $1500 (by an experienced letterpress mechanic & shop mover) plus $1.50 mile over 30 miles from Alexandria, VA. |