The Excelsior Press Museum Print Shop

important notice
Due to recent health issues, sales are temporarily suspended as of 6-9-20
But I wll do what I can to help. Call me or write.

Since my schedule has gotten a bit "iffie" later, here is the invaluable list of other folks who may be able to help you as I put my own personal focus on beating cancer.


Dealers & other resources: (note: if you contact any of these folks, please let them, know you found them here.)

PRINTING MUSEUMS THAT SOMETIMES SELL STUFF - or may be able to help you find what you are looking for...



Most of what shows below should be available. it might just tqake me some more time to put together an order.
Please Ask.



Fiona Otway, producer/director of Kiss The
                        Paper


Gift Shoppe

 Letterpress Printing

Supplies


Operating Expenses
&
Fundraising Page

THINGS WE MAKE HERE
BOOKS


Type Bank in the Excelsior Press Composing
                        Room - 2012

Note: Due to my age and medical issues, things have slowed down here, so please bear with me if it takes some time to respond to your inquiries
NEW, USED, RECYCLED & RESTORED
 STUFF that you can use.


"While Supplies Last"
HOME | CONTACT
How to place an order
SHIPPING INFO
DIMENSIONS & SPECIFICATIONS
last update:
3/2013
3/2014
1/2015 6/2015  10/2017 12/2017 5/18 6/18 7/18 8/18 6/1/19 8/15/20

new STARTER KITS PAGE - a work in progress

Presswork Essentials Typesetting Essentials Presses, Parts & Repair
SMALL PRESS Starter Kit Items

  FURNITURE ~ QUOINS ~ TYMPAN ~ GAUGE PINS  ~
~ Small Press Scoring Kit ~
 Platen Leveling Kit ~ INK ROLLER HEIGHT GAUGE ~ INK.ROLLER.BEARERS
Excelsior Chase-Base
INK ~ Basic Mixing Kit ~ INK KNIFE HOLDER ~ Ink in Tubes
TYPESETTING
Starter Kit


~ COMPOSING STICKS ~
~ TYPE ~ TYPE CASES ~ TYPE CABINETS ~
~ LEADS & SLUGS ~ LEAD & SLUG CUTTERS ~
~ PRESS PARTS & REPAIR ~
Presses & Eqpt. Available

Restored Presses, Used Presses, Other Presses
and equipment available from private owners
 ~
INK ROLLERS
LETTERPRESS TUTORING, TRAINING & WORKSHOPS
BOOKS
A
                          Field Guide to North American Hand Presses by
                          Robert Oldham
Robert Oldham's
A FIELD GUIDE
to North American
HAND PRESSES
and their
Manufacturers

$15+S&H

$12.50 with any supplies or printing order

Robert Oldham's Field Guide to North American Hand Presses is a very complete and fascinating retrospective look at the standard Iron and Wood Hand Presses used by American Printers from 1800-1900.

- includes photos of dozens of presses with information about their makers and where they are now.

If you have any interest in these neat old horizontal platen presses - the precursors to the Gordons, Goldings and Kelseys we use today, this is a must-have desk reference which will give you greater insight into those old hand presses that changed American History.
- reviewed by Alan Runfeldt

NEW! For the first time in many years, and available only at the Excelsior Press

The Kelsey Complete Printing Outfit

Type, press, ink - Everything you need to start printing
Today!



  OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT'S AVAILABLE - FROM PRIVATE OWNERS ONLY

MISCELLANEOUS ~ SHIPPING NOTES

Please note that ALL proceeds of equipment, supplies or printing sold by the Excelsior Press goes to support the continued existance of this museum print shop.  Each month, we have to come up with $600 $700to pay the rent. For the past 22 years, the cost of the rent has come out of my own earnings. But now the shop must support itself in order to survive. We began by selling off some of the spare presses and tools from our collection, but response has been so positive that we are now seeking out other sources of the things you may need. We and hope to become a reliable resource to assist and encourage letterpress printing for this and future generations...

But. Be forewarned:

We work alone, with no helpful staff to process orders and answer email, and much of what we sell is made to order, so we cannot promise service as rapid as we would like - or as most folks expect in this fast-paced world, so please bear with us and be patient.
- Alan

So, Yes, this is our own unabashedly commercial "shameless commerce" part of the website.

WE HAVE FINALLY REALIZED  that developing and maintainining a collection of old printing presses - and paying the rent month after month for the past 25 years (so far) takes both a lot of time and a fair amount of money. And, since we've got more stuff than we really need, and since the simple fact that you are here viewing this page suggests that you might want or need some of these treasures we've collected over the past 45 years or so, we have some really neat stuff (and maybe some junk) for sale.

We hate to part with any of it, actually, but really, how many midget-sized Hamilton Furniture Racks does one print shop need? We've got some spares. And we need to pay the rent. They're for sale.

And, we've got furniture - loads of it. "A lifetime supply", is how I describe it. But how many chases do I want to lock up at one time? And how often will I leave furniture in galley forms? A few fonts of furniture is all that we need. So we can sell some to you. As much as you need.

We've got type. We love type. We can't walk past a font of type without yearning to add it to our composing room. And surfing eBay drives us crazy! Plus people keep bringing us more stuff for the museum, so we're always adding more fonts to our collection. Often we get duplicates - or even faces we just don't use in our style of work. They're for sale, too.

Then there's 138 MORE fonts which we 'rescued' when Hobson Printing finally cleared out their composing room this past winter. I couldn't buy the type - but I insisted that the owner not dump it into that large barrel full of lead going to the scrap dealer. These fonts had to be saved. I made him let me take them and promised that I would sell it for him for twice what the scrap dealer would have paid. (Still not sure what that price really was. when I find out, I'll post it here.)

AND, now that Barry's brought down his Linotype, Interype, Ludlow & Colt, we have his spare quoins, furniture, etc. to add to the collection, and he's kindly agreed that we should sell it to cover expenses - and our newest expense is the $1200 it cost to move the line casters to The Excelsior Press.

And quoins! Boy, have we got quoins!

enough chatter. Here's the list: but remember - Most of this is used, and is available "Only while supplies last"



What do I need in my starter kit?

The basic question whose answer will help us decide just what you need is "Do you plan to set type and print using traditional methods, or do you plan to print only from photopolymer plates - or a combination of both?"

In either case, you will need ink, tympan paper and gauge pins.
For the 5x8 or larger press, you may also find Megill Extension Feed Guides to be very helpful.

If you plan to print from photopolymer plates only, an Excelsior Chase-Base or a wooden Excelsior Plate Base would be an asset. It could be used instead of the well-known "BoxCar Base" sold by Boxcar press, and offers certain advantages over it. Either base can be used with anyone's photo polymer plates. We recommend, btw - deep-etch engravings or photo-polymer plates for best results on a small platen press.

If, on the other hand, you wish to pursue the traditional path of setting type and locking up forms of hand-set type with or without wood-mounted metal photo-engravings, you would probably want to add items listed under #starter_kit-typesetting

In addition, you would need some reglet and furniture  For the Kelsey Excelsior presses, you may not need to purchase quoins and a key, but could use the Chase Lock-up Bars - if your chase is drilled for set-screws on two sides. This was a common feature on most Kelsey presses, and may suffice for your needs as well. (If your chase has the holes, but no set screws, we have them in stock for your here)

Once we figure out exactly what you will need, we will put together a packing list and post it online for you to review. Once the order is approved, we will pack it up, generate an invoice which would include a PayPal "Pay Now" button, print a shipping label and get it all ready to ship to you.

It may help to discuss your needs and interest directly, so please do feel free to contact us with any specific questions you may have through the contact form or by phone at 908 627-2730.

And please do also send us your mailing address. We ship using the USPS Flat-Rate boxes, so the rates are pretty standard, and your package would be delivered by your local mail carrier.

Please take some time to review the contents of this page and write with any questions you may have about your new press and the supplies you will need to get the most out of it.

We do realize that there is a lot to consider on this page, and it can be overwhelming. We are here to help, so do not hesitate to write with any questions you may have. We will respond just as quickly as we can.





Letterpress Tools & Supplies Price List
(prices subject to change and only while supplies last)


Excelsior Press - Printer's
                  Starter Kit

SMALL PRESS ACCESSORIES STARTER KITS - kit or ala carte
(this section undergoing revision 12/02/09 - and 10/12/17)

What do I need?

Many folks find or buy a press by itself without the "ancillary items" they will need to actually use their new press. To fill this need, we have put together a number of 'starter kits' that will give you everything you need to begin printing. But your needs may vary, so we have broken this down into some categories, with ala carte an option as well.


For the common Kelsey presses, for example, we have put together a kit which includes:



Basic Printing kit (these are things you *must* have to print.) It should include:
Description
Price Range
  • Tympan set - for your press - enough for your first 25 job - 5 thicknesses packing - NOT just top sheets
$15.00-50.00
  • gauge pins - Choose your preference (see Megill Page for full info)
    • box of 6 new or new/old stock Megill Spring Tongue Gauge Pins OR
    • box of 3 Megill "Double-Grip" gauge pins OR
    • box of 3 Megill Quad Guides OR
    • 6 pack Megill Flexible Gauge Pins (for photo-polymer plates) OR
    • 12 pack of Excelsior foam cushion paper guides (alternative for pp plate or for *really small* presses (3x5 or smaller)
$10.00-32.00
  • INK
    • Basic Ink Kit - 4 tubs of 4 colors - Van Son Rubber Based inks - mix custom colors or use the basic shades
$8.50-38.50

$10.50-120.00
$40.00-60.00
  • an ink knife - a simple flexible blade putty knife will do
  • Red Shop Towels - (5)
$1.00-$10.00
.25-.50 ea.


Letterpress Typesetter's Starter Kit - for Traditional Printing - and hand-set type
It should include Basic Printing Kit PLUS:

Description
Price Range
$40.00-60.00
  • Composing Stick
$20.00-50.00
  • Selection of Leads & Slugs
$10.00-60.00
  • (1) Font of type
$25.00-$75.00
  • (1) Font of spaces
$15.00-$50.00
  • (1) type case
$18.00-45.00
  • selection of cuts and/or ornaments
$10.00-$$$$$
  • 3 10x12 steel type galleys (price each)
$9.00-$14.00.




For Photo polymer printers: Basic Photo-Polymer Kit recommended items:
Includes Basic Printer's Kit PLUS:
Optional but recommended items:
(note: due to Kelsey's chase design, their presses do not require quoins for lockup. Use Chase Bars and screws instead - and recover the chase space which would be lost to quoin width)
  • Megill Extension Feed Guides - gives you up to 2" additional vertical size capability
  • Quoins and key (needed for all but Kelsey chases, optional for Kelseys)

    • Wickersham
    • Challenge Wedge - with Key or Shooting Stick
    • Challenge High-Speed
    • Challenge Wedge Minis
    • Wooden Wedge Quoins - with shooting stick (new quoins, made by Thompson, but *very* antique)
* Wickersham quoins optional ($4.50 each + $16 for original used key or $9 for new L-shaped key)
* Challenge quoin key may be replaced by a 'shooting stick', depending upon availability of used keys

You Buy Locally:

We recommend that you also buy locally (Lowes, Home Depot, any paint store)

  • a quart can of Odorless Mineral Spirits for cleaning the press and
  • a small can of 3-in-One oil for regular lubrication of wear points on press (hardware or automotive store)


* Kits up to 5x8 ship in Medium USPS Flat-rate box for $13.50 - insured.


OPTIONAL Press ITEMS -
  • Chase lockup bars - eliminate the need for quoins on Kelsey presses equipped with drilled chases ($9.00/set)
  • Challenge Wedge Quoins  - 3 2-piece sets Challenge Wedge Style Quoins & quoin key*  ($9.75+9.25=$19.00)
  • Wickersham Quoins
  • Quoin reglet set - + 10 pieces each 6 & 12 point 25 pica reglet $4.00
  • Ludlow slugs (Line - or "slug" of "hot-metal" type)
    --  common phrases  - plus the name of your press - cast in Linotype/Ludlow Type Metal ($13.00)
    • "Happy Holidays
    • Thinking of You
    • Thank You
    • Happy Birthday
    • plus custom phrases of your choice... @ $4/line.
    • Many fonts available. listing & Font Samples to be posted soon.
  • [PLKLS] - Platen Leveling Kit - 4 Ludlow Slugs (XXx) to lock up in the corners of your chase - $11.00
    - use these to set all four corners at one time and save time and frustration.
    (Also available as [PLKPP] - photo-polymer for Chase-Base users - $9.00)

  • IRHG - INK ROLLER HEIGHT Gauge - $8 - simply a 12" piece of 18 point solid border. The *ideal* tool for checking roller height on a platen press.
    • 3DRHG - 3D Roller Height Gauge - our own invention - see not only the width of your stripe, but see also just how deep your rollers press into the form! It WILL BE great for photo-polymer plate users!  BUT IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE - still under development as of 6/12/18


INK  - Van Son & Gans Rubber Base Ink - The inks we've used for years... our regular shop inks that we continue to use today. We buy these inks fresh from Van Son and repackage in small .30 cup plastic tubs
Note: Van Son Rubber Based inks do not skin in the container and do "stay open" (do not dry) on the press for 24 hours, but do dry on paper within 24 hours under normal temp & humidity
Update: 10/17: We have precisely weighed each tub and updated prices bases on actual weight AND Van Son's increased prices.

Individual tub containers (.155-.27 lb.) new price
old price
Ink Mixing Kit

Advanced Ink Mixing Kit ($60)
Ink, Ink Knives, Ink Knife Holder
   
VS306 VS306 Pantone Reflex Blue - .155 lb/tub
$10.75
$8.50
VS301 VS301 Pantone Yellow - .165 lb/tub
$ 9.25
$8.50
VS346 VS346 Pantone Red Pepper - .155 lb/tub
$ 9.50
$8.50
VS357 VS357 Opaque White- .27 lb/tub
$15.50
$8.50
INK1 Basic Colors - STANDARD KIT  .8 total pounds of ink (4 - .30 cup tubs)
.30 cup containers  4 tub kit - Blue, Yellow, Red, White ($45 value)
$38.50
 $30.00




GWR
Gans Rubber Based Warm Red - $ 9.50
$8.50
10850
VS 10850 Rubber Base Black - the standard $ 8.50
$8.50
VSDr
Van Son 3 Way Drier inquire
$8.50
VSTMW
Van Son Transparent Mixing White  inquire
$8.50
VSOPV
Overprint Varnish inquire
$8.50
VS87x
Van Son Gold #877 or Silver #871 -   (new 1/2015) $24.50
$24.50
FIN
Flexible Ink knife (also available at your local hardware store as a "putty knife")  $ 4.50
$4.50
IKH
Ink Knife Holder - keep your work area clean. Lay your ink knives in this holder
- instead of on something you don't want to get ink on...
(This is the original design that inspired Joe Lanich' own version at Laughing Owl press)
$11.50 $11.50
AIMK Advanced ink mixing kit - 4 containers ink, 4 ink knives, ink knife holder (see photo)
$60.00 $60.00

Ink in Tubes are also available - from Dave Robison


3x5 Kelsey Excelsior Press Ink Rollers,
                boxed for shipment
top of page
note: Due to recent health issues, we are not currently casting new rollers - but we will be back!

 INK ROLLERS

- FOR KELSEY AND OTHER TABLE TOP PRINTING PRESSES


  • We cast our own Rubber Ink Rollers - on YOUR CORES or OUR new 3/8" or 5/16" custom-made roller shafts with locking trucks - machined here at the Excelsior Press Museum Fabrication Shop.
  • Note: Our rollers are *cast*, not vulcanized and are made for slow-speed platen presses, not high-tech, high-speed presses. They exhibit the high tack, excellent inking characteristics of traditional Composition Rollers -- but they last much, much longer
  • All Excelsior-cast rollers come with a  5-year 100% satisfaction guarantee/warranty.
  • 5x8 & larger rollers are made with locking trucks to improve inking
  • Most Complete Roller & Truck sets are priced between $165 and $195 US.
  • We offer ink rollers for most table top platen presses:Ink Rollers for Sigwalt & Baltimore
                    pressesInk Rollers for Sigwalt &
                    Baltimore presses
    • Ink Rollers for Antique letterpress printing presses
    • Sigwalt & Baltimore #9 & #10 & Kelsey Junior
    • Kelsey Excelsior 3x5 Ink Rollers
    • Kelsey Excelsior 5x8 Ink Rollers
    • Kelsey Excelsior 6x10 Ink Rollers
    • Craftsmen Imperial 5x8 Ink Rollers
    • Golding Official #6 (5x8) Ink Rollers
    • Craftsmen Victory & original Victor 4x6 Rollers
    • Dorman Baltimore No. 4 Jobber (rare)
    • Chandler & Price, American Printing Equipment, Craftsmen 6 1/2 x 10 "Pilot" Ink Rollers
    • For larger rollers, we recommend (& use) Ramco Roller in San Dimas, CA. and/or NA Graphics in Colorado
    • And, if you are in a rush and we are out of stock, we recommend Todd's Presstime on eBay.
    • For traditional glycerin composition rollers, we recommend Tar Heel Roller in North Carolina **
      • **(note: Composition rollers may no longer be available - best to check with them...)
New 20 or 30 durometor Industrial-grade
Excelsior Press Rubber Ink Rollers

for your Kelsey, Golding, Victor, Craftsmen or other small presses

~ rollers cast and trucks machined at The Excelsior Press, Frenchtown, NJ ~
Our roller trucks are machined of high density Delrin and are broached to lock onto our drilled and pinned roller shafts.
3x5 Kelsey Excelsior
                        Press Ink Rollers, boxed for shipment
3x5 Kelsey Excelsior Press Ink Rollers, boxed for shipment in handy storage rack
(included at no extra charge with every order.)

We are now also offering a roller height gauge and truck wrapping tape with all orders.
ITEM ID
ITEM
PRICE
AVAILABLE
           
KELSEY EXCELSIOR 3X5  - COMPLETE SET - 2 rollers plus matching locking trucks $175.00
cast on order
IRK3x5 3x5 Ink Rollers only - new - each 1 1/32" diameter
$80.00
yes

3x5 Ink Roller Trucks only - new - machined high density Delrin - free wheeling - each $7.00
yes

3x5 Ink Roller Trucks only - new - machined high density Delrin - locking trucks
$9.50
yes

3x5 Ink Roller Trucks - used - steel, not plastic - each original Kelsey 7/8" dia. *
 $5.50
inquire
IRK3x5J 3x5 "Jumbo" Ink rollers - 1.25" diameter, but made to fit the 3x5 (uses 5x8 trucks) - smoother action, better inking $80.00
In Stock

KELSEY EXCELSIOR 5X8   - COMPLETE SET - 2 rollers plus matching locking trucks $185.00 cast on order
IRK5x8
5x8 Ink Rollers - new/each - 1.25" diameter
$95.00 In Stock
IRTLDK5x8
5x8 Ink Roller locking Trucks  - new - machined of high density Delrin $9.50/ea
inquire
IRTSK5x8
5x8 Ink Roller Trucks - used - steel, not plastic - each original Kelsey
$5.50 inquire

KELSEY EXCELSIOR 6X10 - COMPLETE SET - 2 rollers plus matching locking trucks $195.00 cast on order
IRK6x10
6x10 Ink Rollers - new/each - 1.25" diameter $95.00
In Stock

6x10 Ink Roller locking Trucks  - new - machined of high density Delrin $9.50/ea inquire
IRSBKC
Sigwalt, Baltimore, Kelsey Junior & 3x5 Craftsmen rollers - 7/8" by length to fit press.
$75.00
cast on order




IRCC-??
Custom-Cast Rollers - 1.0", 1.25", 1.375" for most presses - each (includes re-cast on Customer Cores)
$95.00
cast on order
IRCPP
Chandler & Price (C&P) , American Printing Equipment, Craftsmen 6 1/2 x 10 "Pilot" Ink Rollers 1.25 or 1.375" $95.00
cast on order




IRKB
Replacement Rollers for Kelsey Brayers (& others) 1.25" diameter x 5.5" on .25" core
$65
inquire

We also make rollers for most similar-sized presses at similar prices.
Note: We can also modify most existing free-wheeling roller shafts and trucks to lock together. Call for quote.
inquire

Roller Hooks and Springs - and Roller Bearers are also available  inquire

A note on Kelsey Roller Diameters:

ALL PRESSES USE 1.25" diameter rollers!

Back in 2010, the late Gene Mosher, last owner of the Kelsey Company, gave me a file box filled with notes about roller sizes for all sorts of presses - Kelseys and dozens upon dozens of other presses. Sad to say, some of the rollers I have been asked about since then did not appear among these 100-year-old collection of file cards.

For those presses, I developed a procedure to measure shaft length - based upon distance between roller hooks or t-head, taking into consideration the distance between rails on the press as well as the actual form size the chase can handle.

Then I measure the center line distance between the hooks or rockers that hold the rollers in place.

In the case of the three most common Kelsey presses - the 1928 designed 3x5, 5x8 & 6x10, all rollers are mounted 22/16" apart. That allows for 1.25-21/16=1.3125 diameter rollers.

A 1.25" diameter roller will cover almost 4" - (actually 3.93") of ink disk and/or form before "ghosting" - far more than is needed for a 3x5 press, and plenty for a 5x8. On the 6x10... ghosting is possible, depending upon the form being printed.


While this conjecture was just that - conjecture on my part, I was rewarded not only to discover that my calculated roller dimensions nearly always matched the "official" roller dimensions of these presses when they were discovered from other sources.

Moreover, according to Elizabeth Harris' book on small presses, Kelsey standardized on 1 1/4" (1.25") as the diameter of all three of their smaller presses in 1894.

So I guess my theory was correct...

from Elizabeth Harris' book:
Illustration of Kelsey Handle Toggles plus
                      notes on roller diameters





  • Ink Roller Bearers aka Roller Tracks -NEW! - Our roller bearers are made here in the shop from new hardwoods or recycled wood furniture pieces cut to fit precisely - type high - .918" - on our 1.0-point precision Hammond Glider Trim Saw. Bearers are then finished - for protection from ink stain and solvents - with the same Paraffin Oil used by The Thompson Cabinet Company when they made the furniture they sold to the Kelsey Company and to print shops throughout the country for many years.

Item #
Description
price
sets in stock
Ink
                        Roller Bearers for Kelsey and other Platen
                        Presses



RB3X5K 3x5 Kelsey $24/set * 0
RB5X8K 5x8 Kelsey $28/set * 3
RB6X10K 6x10 Kelsey $29/set * 0
RBP 6 1/2 x 10 Pilot $29/set *
RBCP 8x12 or 10x15 C&P $32/set 4/1
RB-C Custom Sizes to fit your chase $38/set


* undercut to save chase space


Note: Be VERY CAREFUL when using roller bearers. Remember, they are type high. Be sure to check for clearance with your grippers and your gauge pins or they could be crushed!


Chandler & Price 1914
                catalog - Roller Bearers
From Chandler & Price circa 1900



INK ROLLER BE
ARERS


MADE AT THE EXCELSIOR PRESS MUSEUM RESTORATION WORK SHOP

HTTP://EXCELSIORPRESS.ORG    908 627-2730

MADE OF SELECT HARD WOODS OR RECYCLED WOOD FURNITURE

3x5 4x6 5x8 6x9 7x11 8x12 9x13 10x15
iNK ROLLER BEARERS MADE AT EXCELSIOR
                          PRESS




  • Excelsior "Chase Base" �- "replace your chase" with a hardwood blocked Cherry, machined Richlite� or 9-ply Baltic Birch Excelsior Chase-Base. Used for printing from deep-etch (K-series) photo-polymer plates. Mounts in your press just like a chase - but does not require that you have a chase, furniture, quoins or a quoin key - AND it gives you the largest image size possible for your small press.  
  • See our "Chase-base Hints Page" for more information and helpful hints about using the Excelsior Chase-Base
Note: 10/20/2011 We are beginning R&D making Chase-Bases of a more stable material - Richlite - an eco-friendly material used in aircraft as well as counter tops. Richlite is a very hard, durable, yet machinable phenolic resin and wood fibre laminate. This product is stable, abrasion resistant, moisture and chemical resistant. It should make a superior Chase-Base. We will post results of our tests online once they are completed.
  • Full Kit* includes low-clearance unsmashable gauge pins that will let you position your image anywhere on the base and still do quick makeready and sheet alignment. $68.00 - 108.00
  • Base Blocks (rectangular milled base) are now available for 3x5, 5x8 & 6x10 Kelsey, 4" squares for printing coasters, and other sizes as available or required.  $3/sq inch

Please check with us regarding current inventory of the Blocked Cherry Wood, 9-ply Baltic Birch Engraver's Mounting Base or Milled and Machined Richlite base you require. It will likely take a while to catch up with delayed orders, so please bear with us and be patient as we manufacture the best Chase-Base that we can.




  • Style A is made from milled blocked Cherry Wood or 9 Ply Baltic Birch Engraver's Mounting Base
  • Style B is now made using a Phenolic Resin Laminate which utilizes recycled paper for body.
  • * prices effective 6/1/2015
Code
Ship
Weight
 THE EXCELSIOR CHASE-BASE
IS AVAILABLE* FOR:

Style-A
(wood)
PRICE

Style-B
PRL
PRICE

Full Kit includes
12 Cushion Quad Guides

5x8 Excelsior Chase-Base

5X8 Kelsey Excelsior
Blocked-Cherry Chase-Base 

Style A

Milled to fit the bed just like the Kelsey Chase.
Mounts photo-polymer plates for full-form printing
max image area: 5x8"
also available for The 6 1/2 x 10 Pilot plus
 all presses listed to the left.
Inquire for custom orders.

The New 6 1/2 x 10 Pilot
Excelsior Chase-Base

Richlite� Style B
Milled from high-density phenolic resin laminate
6 1/2 x 1 Pilot Excelsior
                      Chase-Base
ECB3X5K

 Kelsey Excelsior 3x5
$70
+$10 + $10
ECB5X8K

 Kelsey Excelsior 5x8  - wide or narrow**
$80
+$20 + $10
ECB6X10K
R-3 lbs.
 Kelsey Excelsior 6x10 - wide or narrow**  $90 +$25
+ $10
ECBP

 Pilot 6 1/2x10 (also Craftsmen Superior)
$90
+$30 + $10
ECBP8

 Golding Pearl - Improved #8 - 5x8
$80
+$20 + $10
ECBP11

 Golding Pearl - Improved #11 - 7x11
$90
+$30 + $10
ECBGO3

 Golding Official #3 - 5 x 7 1/2" $90
+$30 + $10
ECBCV6X9

 Cooks Victor (& old style Kelsey Victor) - 6x9
$90
+$30 + $10
ECBV4X6

 Victor 4x6 or Craftsmen Victory (please specify, widths vary)
$75
+$25 + $10
ECBC5X8

 Craftsmen 5x8
$75
+$30 + $10
ECB8X12

 Chandler & Price 8x12 or 8x12 Golding Jobber #6
$100
+$40 + $10
ECB10X15

 Chandler & Price, Kluge or Colt 10x15; Kelsey 9x13
$110
+$40 + $10
MEFG
Megill Extension Feed Guides
Recommended for Pilot - and all platen presses 5x8 or larger.
$26.50

MFGP12
Megill Flexible Gauge pins BOX OF 12
$36


PLKPP
Xxx Platen Leveling kit - Ludlow slugs
$11


PLKPP

Xxx Platen Leveling kit - photo polymer corner markers
$9




Stock photopolymer images set (under development)
$call


EBRB4

4" Square base blocks - cut to fit 4" coasters
15.00


EBRBi
Excelsior Base Richlite blocks, 3x5, 5x8, 6x10,
or custom size to fit your chase - price per sq inch
1.00


EBPly

Engraver's .855" plywood mounting block - price per square inch
3x5=$10.50, 5x8=$28, 6x10=$42, 8x12=$67.20 
.70




* KIT includes pack of 6 flexible gauge pins - a $17 value)
**  5x8 Excelsior Chase Beds vary in width by up to 1/8" see photo below




note: although these are an inexpensive alternative a well-known & popular photopolymer base, these are *not* machined metal, nor do they include the alignment grid. But plates mount easily and are easily aligned - AND users report excellent results when using our special flexible gauge pins.

You can see one of our bases being used on Michael Hurley's 10x15 C&P on Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mephit/7829080968/in/photostream/




5x8
                Excelsior Chase Bed Comparison
** Old vs New Style Kelsey Excelsior 5x8 Chase Bed Comparison. Note the old style bed in the background. It uses iron wedges - cast into the bed - to hold the chase in place. It is 1/8" tighter than the new style shown in the foreground.

The New Style Chase Bed uses pins or set screws to hold the chase at the bottom. It is 1/8" wider than the old style. Be sure to tell us which one you have so that the base we send you fits your press perfectly.

The bed of the Kelsey Excelsior 6x10 Model X is 6-12 points wider and 12 points taller than the bed of the Model Q.



Typesetting Starter Kit

Even if you do use photo polymer plates or photo-engravings now and again, nothing beats the satisfaction - and convenience - of setting your own hand type, adding a flourish or ornament or nice piece of rule here and there, adjusting the spacing with a 2pt lead here and there - and then printing as we did in the good old days of "hot metal". (Which, of course we still do daily at the Excelsior Press) Besides, when you set your own type, and make up your own forms, you not only carry on the old letterpress tradition - established by Gutenberg when he began casting moveable type around 1450, but you also have the option of getting an idea and putting it to paper within an hour or less in many cases. There's nothing more convenient than setting hand type for short text works.

How to Hold the Composing StickSetting hand type is not as hard as it may seem. We typically teach folks the basics of typesetting and lockup in an hour or so. You can learn in class, or learn from a book, either way works. For over 100 years, the Kelsey Company taught folks around the world - in quite literally, every far-flung corner of the world - monks on mountain tops, missionaries in the jungle, boys and girls across the USA - to set type with the handy (and still available) little Kelsey Printer's Guide.

And, we have recently come upon an until quite recently unopened crate of brand new composing sticks - made in Germany about 50 years ago, but left in a crate that had not been opened in anyone's recent memory... These are economy sticks - not as spiffy as the most popular of all - the Rouse Composing Stick, but they sell for quite a bit less than the Rouse stick and will serve any typesetter quite well. We use them in our shop and find them to be perfectly adequate - sturdy and accurate and easy to use.

To set hand type - as every printer should, you will need a few basic items:
1) Type & spaces
2) A composing stick
3) leads & slugs
4) A type planing block

Other good items worth having:
1) Type cases - one for each font.
2) A printer's line gauge - marked off in picas
3) A composing stick holder - keeps it at an angle so nothing falls out of an unjustified line.
4) A lead & slug cutter - to cut leads to custom lengths as needed (tin snips can work in a pinch, too.)
5) Galley Trays - to hold type, leads, slugs, furniture, "live forms" recently, or about to be printed.
6) Rules & borders - to enhance your designs. These come as piece borders (type), lead rule & border or brass rule.
7) (more to add)


Of course, you will want some type cases to hold the type, but even if you use a few ice-cube trays to begin with, you can get started doing your own typesetting easily and at relatively little expense.
Now if you want to get a bit fancy, we also make a reproduction of ATF's old composing stick holder.

Typesetting items
  • composing stick
  • composing stick holder
  • leads & slugs - in fonts or by weight new & used (mixed)
    • small font - 10 leads, 5 slugs in lengths of 10, 15, 20, 25 & 30 picas
    • price by weight may vary - $5.00/ lb March, 2010
  • border - piece border (type) or line border (rule)
  • spaces
  • type
  • type cases
  • Type Planing Block
  • galley trays - $9-14 each, various sizes available
  • miscellaneous "stock" or unique cuts and ornaments
  • Custom-cast Ludlow slugs ($4.00/line set, + .50 slug cast = $10 min.)
Training - Personal Tutoring at the Excelsior Presss
  • Basic Platen Press work
  • Basic Proof Press printing
  • Typesetting - hand composition, form makeup, and more.


Other "starter kit" items you may want to purchase at your local hardware:

1) a one-quart can of lacquer thinner (or other suggested solvent) to clean old ink from your rollers
2) a one-quart can of odorless mineral spirits for general cleanup - rollers, type, etc.
3) a small bundle of cloth shop towels (or some old t-shirts)
4) a small putty knife to be used as an ink knife. Be sure the blade is flexible for mixing inks
5) a small adjustable wrench (Pilot) or large blade screwdriver (Kelsey & others) for adjusting the platen pressure
6) a tool for adjusting the paper gripper arms - a flat-tipped screw driver or an allen key, depending upon the gripper screws on your press.
7) an Exacto knife or some razor blades for general cutting while doing press make-ready.



SMALL PRESS SCORING KIT New 6/1/2015

The Small Press Scoring Kit will let you score cards for easy folding. It consists of two pieces of .918" steel scoring rule; one piece cut to fit your chase horizontally, a second that will fit vertically. It also includes 3 strips of "Channel Creasing Matrix" of each length which will serve for 6 jobs. You can also use multiple staggered layers masking tape to create channels manually.

I'm working on some illustrations and instructions on how to use this on the small press and will make sure to have that ready by the time you get your kit if you think it's something that you will put to good use.

SK5x8
5x8 Pre-cut Scoring Kit
$15.00
Small Press Scoring Kit
SK610
6x10 Pre-cut Scoring Kit
$20.00
SK812
8x12 Pre-cut Scoring Kit -
$25.00
SR.918
.918" new steel Score Rule - 12" strip @.50/inch
$6.00
CRM2
#2 Channel Creasing Matrix - 12" strip @.25/inch
$3.00


Furniture/Reglet & Cabinets

New and used (mixed as shown in photo) Letterpress Wood Furniture from our excess inventory
(most of our furniture was manufactured by Hamilton)
Please note: - Much of our furniture is freshly & precisely cut from longer lengths of good used (aka recycled) wood furniture made by Hamilton, Thompson and other industrial manufacturers of the past. Some is new, never used.

  • Standard 60 Pica Wood Furniture Font (60PWF) contains:
    • 1 of each width and length furniture = 7*8=56 pieces  PLUS 80 strips reglet
      • 8 LENGTHS = 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60
      • 7 WIDTHS = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10
      • each font includes 5 pieces each, 6 & 12 point reglet*
    • (see photo to right) (*reglet not shown)  ======>>>>>>>>>

  • 60PWF - Standard 60 Pica Wood Furniture font = 56 pieces plus reglet - $60


POPULAR PRESS KITS
  • Kelsey Excelsior Starter Furniture fonts
    2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 picas = 7 WIDTHS
  1. 3x5WF - Kelsey Excelsior 3x5 "30-pica font" - $40
    6 & 12 point reglet plus 1 set each length: 10-15-20-25-30 pica furniture -
    7 widths x 5 lengths = 35 pieces plus 50 strips reglet included
     
  2. 5x8WF - Kelsey Excelsior 5x8 "48 pica font"-$50
    6 & 12 point reglet plus 1 set each length: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 48 picas
    7 widths x 7 lengths = 49 pieces plus 70 strips reglet included

  3. 60PWF - 6x10 & larger presses  - $60
    Standard "60 pica Font"  (above) recommended
    7 widths + 8 lengths = 56 pieces plus 80 strips reglet included

Wood Furniture by the piece:
  • 10-15-20-25-30 pica length - 
    • 2,3,4,5 pica width - $1.00/piece
    • 6,8,10 pica width - $1.50/piece
  • 40,50,60 pica length
    • 2,3,4,5 pica width - $1.50/piece
    • 6,8,10 pica width - $3.00/piece
Custom Lengths over 60 picas quoted by request.
  • We can precisely cut wood furniture to any size you want on our Hammond Glider Trim-Saw - just ask. *

Reglet - (mostly used) - starter fonts

  • RSF - SHORT FONT 15-20-30 picas .25/piece,  $ 9.00/font of 45 pieces
    • 10 pieces each length, 6 pt
    • 5 pieces each length, 12 pt
  • RLF - LONG FONT 40-50-60 picas .50/piece, $18.00/font of 45 pieces
    • 10 pieces each length, 6 pt
    • 5 pieces each length, 12 pt
  • RLS - LONG STRIPS
    • 06 pt. x 20" $1.00
    • 12 pt. x 20" $1.50
  • RCL - Custom Lengths over 60 picas quoted by request.

Metal Furniture by the piece
  • (approx twice the cost of wood, not all sizes available. Inquire for sizes you need.)
  • Some Metal furniture is available. (to be inventoried) *

Hamilton, Thompson & Damon & Peets Furniture Cabinets
available - $75-150 *
* CONTACT us for details via online form   ~~~~ new page under development

Starter Font of wood furniture for
                          letterpress


Basic Universal Starter Font
Wood Furniture
(as shown above)
1 piece of each
Standard Font width and length
7 x 8 = 56 pieces
PLUS
5 pieces each 6 pt and 12 pt reglet
for each length = 80 pieces
$60 Full Kit



Basic Wood Reglet Fonts
~~~~
Short Font & Long Font

Starter Font of wood reglet
(click for larger image)

Short Font - $9
Long Font - $18



Quoins & Keys - inventory (& add'l photos) posted 10/6/2011

Hempel
                        Quoins
Challenge Two-piece Wedge Quoins & Key

Code
DESCRIPTION
DETAILS PRICE AVAILABLE
CHSQ18
Challenge High-speed  3" -18 pica

$10 3
CHSQ27
Challenge High-speed  4 1/2" - 27 pica
$15
7
CHSQ36
Challenge High-speed  6" - 36 pica
$20
4
CHSQ45
Challenge High-speed  7 1/2" - 45 pica

$20
4
CHSQ63
Challenge High-speed  10 1/2" - 63 pica

$25
5
CHSQ72
Challenge High-speed  12" - 72 pica

$30
1
WQ#
Wickersham quoins - patent date 1891
#0-
#1-4x12p
#2-4.5x12 picas
 $6.00
22 asst
CWQ
Challenge-Hempel (two-piece) wedge quoins (set of two pieces) - 10 oz.
2 piece set
$4.50 8
MWQ
Miniature Challenge wedge Quoins
set of 3
$17
12
WWQ
WOODEN wedge Quoins  (new from Thompson Cabinet Company)
set of 2
$3.25
20

Quoin Keys
CHSK
Challenge high-speed Quoin Key

$25.00
n/a
WK
Wickersham quoin key - original

$19.00
2
WKL
Wickersham quoin key -  "L" bar

$16.00
1
CWQK
Challenge-Hempel Wedge Quoin Key
$14.00
2
MWQK
Miniature Challenge Quoin Key

$17.00
3

Shooting Stick for Wedge Quoins
new
$12.00
soon
For Drilled Kelsey Chases
CB
Steel Chase Bars for drilled chases
new/set
$9.00
yes
SSK
1/4 x 20 set screws & key
new/set $9.00 yes
Wickersham Quoins
Wickersham #0, #1 & #2 - Quoins & Key

Challenge High Speed Quoin Keys
Challenge High Speed Quoin Keys
(on hand - 8/12/2013)


Challenge High Speed Quoin Keys
Challenge High Speed Quoins
<----------
Challenge High-Speed Quoins
<----------


Note: Smaller presses - like Kelsey Excelsior models - with drilled chases -  do not need quoins. If your press is drilled for set screws, we recommend using the screws wth our new solid steel chase bars to lock up your forms.

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LEADS & SLUGS AND CUTTERS
Lead & Slug Cutters
DESCRIPTION DETAILS PRICE AVAIL  WT ship
H.B. Rouse "Clipper"
hand held
32.00
2
2#
$5
H.B. Rouse "American"
industrial grade
48.00
3
12#
$24
Kelsey Co. economy
economy, but it works
32.00
2
4#
$10

Leads & Slugs
(mixed new and "used, but usable".  Freshly cut to lengths listed below.)
* USED metal when available - inquire


LEADS AND SLUGS, CUT TO SIZE
USED*
new metal
LSC
2 pt Leads & 6, 12, 18 pt. slugs used, cut to size $5.00/lb $10.00/lb

50 pieces - 2 point leads OR 20 pieces - 6 point slugs
  new or used. Freshly cut to lengths shown

LS10p
10 pica length - 50 2 pt. leads OR 20 6 pt. slugs - 0.625#
$3.50
$7.00
LS15p 15 pica length - 50 2 pt. leads OR 20 6 pt. slugs - 1.00#
$5.00
$10.00
LS20p 20 pica length - 50 2 pt. leads OR 20 6 pt. slugs - 1.25#
$6.25
$12.50
LS25p 25 pica length - 50 2 pt. leads OR 20 6 pt. slugs - 1.50#
$7.50
$15.00
LS30p 30 pica length - 50 2 pt. leads OR 20 6 pt. slugs - 2.00#
$10.00
$20.00
LNSSF
suggested 'starter font' - 110 points of leads & slugs
 25 leads AND 10 slugs cut to 10, 15, 20 & 25 pica lengths
OR - 55 - 2 point leads cut as above
$30.00
$60.00

Leads & slugs cut to lengths not shown - accurately to 1 point,
- price based upon next larger size shown. (no extra charge for cutting)


$2.00 minimum  cutting charge - up to 10 pounds, 10 lengths
USPS Flat Rate box - up to 70# of cut leads and slugs mailed within US for $4.50-$13.50.
note: 10# of leads & slugs will fill a 20x70 pica area
New, freshly cast 6 & 12 point x 22.5 pica Ludlow Slugs also available (price subject to market fluctuation)


Lead & slug cutters
View larger photos on
our "Slug Cutters" Page

Leads and slugs, cut to size
Leads & Slugs, cut to 6 standard lengths

Leads and slugs starter kit
4-length starter font, used leads and slugs
click image for a closer look




Tympan Paper Starter Set - 125 sheets mixed packing - enough for 25 printing projects
A full set of 25 oiled top (aka "hanger") sheets, 25 oiled undersheets, 25 sheets coated book paper,
25 sheets bond, 25 sheets onionskin
for 5x8 & smaller presses:

25 oiled top (aka "hanger") sheets, 25 oiled undersheets, 5 pieces hard red pressboard, 20 sheets coated book paper, 20 sheets onionskin

Note: changed 12/2/09 - pressboard no longer available in larger sizes

code
DESCRIPTION
DETAILS
PRICE
AVAILABLE
May  2015
Pressboard
Available?
TSSSig
Sigwalt Chicago #10 & #11

$15
yes
YES
TSSK3x5
Kelsey Excelsior Press 3x5 $15 yes
YES
TSSK5x8
Kelsey Excelsior Press 5x8 $20
yes
YES
TSSK6x10
Kelsey Excelsior Press 6x10 $25
yes
NO
TSSGP5x7
Golding Pearl
5x7
$20
yes
YES
TSSGP7x11
Golding Pearl 7x11
$30
yes
NO
TSSPilot
C&P Pilot 6x10 $25 yes NO
TSSCP8x12
C&P Platen
8x12
$45
yes
NO
TSSCP10x15
C&P Platen 10x15
$50
yes
NO**
TSSCP12x18
C&P Platen 12x18 $65
yes
NO**
TSSVM4
Vandercook Model 4 Proof Press 12x18+
$70
yes* NO

Challenge Proofing Press 12x18+ $70
yes* NO
TTSMisc
Other presses, send size
custom cut
+5.00
yes
5X8"

* large sheets available. You trim to fit your press



** onionskin avail in 8 1/2 x11 or smaller only




TOP OF PAGE
Gauge Pins - new - as available

We are sorry to say that most of these Megill Gauge Pins are no longer available from the manufacturer. What we have is in stock, new old stock or used. Inquire for availability of all Megill Gauge Pins. Our Cushion Quad Guides are always in stock.
see our page on Megill Gauge Pins


DESCRIPTION
DETAILS
PRICE
AVAILABLE
9/1/18
CONDITION
more info
MSTGP6
Megill Spring Tongue Gauge pin
pack of 6 plus extra tongues
$13 2 nos
MORE INFO
MSTGP12
Megill Spring Tongue Gauge pin box of 12 plus extra tongues $21
2 nos

MHDGP6 Megill Heavy Duty Spring Tongue Gauge Pin pack of 6
$18
n/a new

MHDGP Megill Heavy Duty Spring Tongue Gauge Pin
each
3.25
n/a
new
3/6/12 packs
STGP
Spring Tongue Gauge pin each
$3 2 new

MFGP1
Megill Flexible Gauge pins* each
$4 inquire
N/A
MORE INFO
MFGP6 Megill Flexible Gauge pins* 6-pack
$20
inquire
N/A N/A
MFGP12
Megill Flexible Gauge pins* box of 12
$36
inquire N/A N/A
MQG
Megill/Larsen/Kort Quad Guides set of 3
$28
inquire new MORE INFO
MEFG
Extension Feed Guides
set of 2
$26.50
n/a
N/A MORE INFO
MDGG3U
Megill Double Grip Gauges
each
$11
inquire used, usable
MORE INFO
MDGG3
Megill Double Grip Gauges set of 3 - screw in, with wrench $32
inquire NEW/used
MORE INFO
ECQG
Excelsior Compressible Quad Guides*** 12-pack* $12
YES
NEW
MORE INFO
EMPG
Excelsior Mini Paper Guides*** 12-pack* small
$12
yes
NEW
MORE INFO

Excelsior Cushion Quad Guides -
                        Compressible for Photo-Poly Plate Printing


Excelsior Cushion Quad Guides

Compressible for Photo-Polymer Plate Printing




* "THE" Solution to pins crushed by engraving or polymer plate base... WILL NOT BE CRUSHED by base!
(update: These are currently not available. When we can make new ones, will will update this page)
** "OUR" Solution Compressible Quad Guides and Mini Paper Guides are small and compressible
* plus one for "a baker's dozen" of 13
These are  ideal for printing with photopolymer plates on smaller platens,
Weight: Most full boxes weigh 1-2 oz. and can be mailed first class for $1.50-3.00 or less




TOP OF PAGE

Typesetting Tools and Supplies

 

Composing Sticks - Please contact us to confirm availability

Stock#
DESCRIPTION DETAILS PRICE AVAIL ship wt.
CSR22
Rouse 22 pica stick LIKE NEW IN BOX (sold)
$45.00
0

CSR35
Rouse 35 pica stick
slot hole, knee-action
$35.00 0

CSR35
Rouse 35 pica stick BRAND NEW IN BOX
$75.00
0

CS35
35 Pica stick
thumb screw lock action
$18.00
2

CSR45
Rouse 45 pica stick slot hole, knee-action $45.00 ?
< 2 #
CSR60
Rouse 60 pica stick slot hole, knee-action $52.00
0

CSKA
Kelsey Aluminum
thumb-screw clamp
$16.50
1

CSAPE
APE Hohner - German
35 picas x 11 picas -7 .5"
thumb-screw clamp-NEW
$26.50 2

CS
Other Sticks
various styles
$18-45
-
< 2 #
CSBFW
Ben Franklin Wooden Reproduction
$125
call


California Job Case
Rouse Composing Sticks

Composing Stick Holder - $16 

(Stock #CSH)

Don't lay your stick on the level - keep it at a safe angle - without damaging anything beneath it - or letting loose type fall over.

click on the photo to see a high-res, detailed photograph -->>

Based upon antique design discovered in an old catalog by
cabinet maker & printer Rich Polinksi of Front Room Press
composing stick holder
- brand new, stained & oiled - made to last a lifetime.
- our current model is cut from dark brown rock-hard Ipe Ironwood. (not shown)

Composing Sticks inventory
note: inventory changes, Please contact us for current availability
Current Inventory of Composing Sticks
May 15, 2018
  • Kelsey Aluminum sticks
  • thumb-screw sticks 
  • sliding knee sticks
  • Rouse Knee-Action sticks
  • European-style slide-locking sticks




Composing
                        Sticks in Shop Photo of Sticks Currently in Shop.
May 20, 2018.

We can't sell all of these, but we can sell some of them -at the prices shown below.

Inquire to select.

QUAN
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
1
25 Pica Rouse
$35
3
35 Pica Rouse
$35
1
45 Pica Rouse
$45
1
75 Pica Rouse
$75
2
100 Pica Rouse
$90
1
One-Line 45 Pica Rouse
$75
1
48 Pica European-style slide lock
$45


Type Cases
These cases are used; some are like new, some very old ; some clean, some dirty.
Mfg: Hamilton or Thompson (typical shipping** - 1 case $25-40 ea. +2 or more, add $10-15 each - USPS)
A $4 packing charge will be added to each order of 1-3 cases to cover time, tape and cartons.
Postal Rates:
Rates Vary and often change. Please check for specific shipping costs before placing order.
Sept 16, 2010*
3 cases - 24# pounds, wrapped | 2-3 day Priority Mail = $44* / 6 day Parcel Post - $24 + $4 packing

1 full-sized, California job case, 11 pounds, wrapped | Priority Mail = WAS $11 + $4 packing = $15
May 10,2013** 1 full-sized, California job case, 9.5 pounds, wrapped
Priority Mail (2-3 day delivery to Wisconsin) $23.50 + $4 packing = $27.50
To California 92660: $36.50
+4=$40.50

PLEASE CHECK FOR SPECIFIC SERVICES AND RATES TO YOUR LOCATION BEFORE PLACING ORDER.

note: these are old, used cases. Some may be dirty and dusty. Please be prepared to clean and oil the cases yourself, or ask us to do it before shipping.

California Job Case California Job Case
 Two-California Job Case 
Hamilton Full-sized California Job Case
1.5" high Flat front steel (like new)
for use in "Dust-Free" (enclosed) wood or metal
25-case cabinets
Full-sized California Job Case
1 3/4" high lipped front case
for use in old-style open 14-case "city stands"
(this case has been cleaned, sanded & oiled)
"Two-Thirds" California Job Case
Made by Thompson Cabinet Company for Kelsey Co.
for use in old-style open 14-case "city stands"
(special Kelsey layout also available)
DESCRIPTION SIZE
DETAILS PRICE AVAIL shp wt
Full Sized California Job Case

1.5"   wood (no handles, no lip)
$18 5+

Full Sized California Job Case

1.5" steel (very clean) $22 20+
9.5#
Full Sized California Job Case 32 1/4x16 5/8"x1 3/4"
1.75" raised lip front - AS IS
$17 2 9.5#
Full Sized California Job Case 32 1/4x16 5/8"x1 3/4" cleaned, lightly sanded & oiled
$45
0
9.5#
Full Sized Specialty cases

2,3 caps,  others
$32 5-10

3/4 sized California Job Case
flat front, newer  $29 20+

3/4 sized California Job Case
1.75" raised lip front, older
$29 15+

2/3 sized California Job Case
raised lip front, like new
$34
3+

12" square Kelsey "Hobby" case

12" square, 6 rows of 7 boxes - new & used
$28


Small rule & border case
 new, like new & used
$20 6

new type case handles

(Thompson No. 6071 combination label holder pull) $6
20

Reproduction Hamilton Type Case Handles

cast iron
$15
5

Reproduction Damon & Peets Type Case Handles
cast iron
$15 5

Reproduction Golding Type Case or Drawer Handles
cast iron $15 5

Reproduction Golding Type Case or Drawer Handles
bonded bronze
$22


labor - clean & oil older cases


$28.00


labor - dust and oil boxes only


$10.00





top of page
Type Case Cabinets - May be filled with cases or used for cases and shelving
(wood, steel, used; some like new - mostly Hamilton or Thompson, some 3rd party manufacture)
note: cases extra

DESCRIPTION DETAILS WIDTH PRICE AVAIL SHP WT
Holds 48 Full Sized Cases
flat top wood 72" wide $250 1
Holds 48 Full Sized Cases sloping work top
steel (like new)
72" wide $500 0

Holds 24 Full Sized Cases flat top steel
(like new)
36" wide
$250 0

Holds 24 Full Sized Cases flat top wood
RESTORED
36" wide
$485
sold

Holds 24 Full Sized Cases FLAT TOP WOOD
made in 1926
36" wide
$250
sold

Holds 48 3/4 Sized Cases flat front cases
54" wide
$450
1

Holds 40 3/4 Sized Cases raised lip cases 54" wide $450 1
Holds 20 2/3 Sized Cases
(third party mfg)
case holder and
2-door cabinet on top
26" wide $250 1
Holds 10 2/3 Sized Cases flat top refinished like new 26" wide $285 0
Open Frame 14-case
"city Stand"
to be used with lip-front cases 36" $325 sold

Misc others
to be listed



Cabinet.steel.double.Hamilton

48-case Steel Hamilton Cabinet
with sloping work top.
In very good condition.

Galleys, Galley Cabinets (new June, 2010)



4-tier Hamilton Galley Cabinets - $125 each - 4 available; used
10x12" galleys 1-5, $6 each. 5-10; $4 each 10-20; $3 each.

Type 
Used Type
  • New fonts, old fonts, all sizes and styles and foundrys.
  • some in cases
  • some in original foundry packages
  • ATF, Stephenson Blake, Monotype, some wood type.
  • We'll post the list as soon as we can.
Type in Case
New Type & Spaces -
from Quaker City Type Foundry - call Bill Reiss (610) 942-3637 for a catalog
Bill has retired after many long years serving letterpress printers
and has closed the foundry begun by his grandfgather in the 1920's in Philadelphia
New Type
Good used Type on eBay - Letterpreservation sells good fonts; other sellers... we don't know;
New Type - Hard-metal ATF- quality is cast by Theo Rehak at Dale Guild Type Foundry
and can be purchased from The Arm in Brooklyn, NY
Theo sold his equipment to Micah who in turn sold it to someone in Europe.

 


New page on training and repair


Training - Consulting/Tutoring, Printing and Print Making Classes at the Excelsior Press

Most offerings assume a 3-4 hour "afternoon in the shop" combining any of the subjects or projects listed below with experienced, traditional letterpress printers Alan or Barry for $150.
(note: These "afternoons" tend to stretch out. Over 4 hours; please add $35-45/hour if you can afford it.)

Most visits begin with a 20-30 minute introduction to the shop and the typecasters, presses, fonts & engravings available to see and/or use. The clock does not start ticking until we get through the introductions...

Rate schedule; shop/instructor time
3-5 hours  $150
5-8 hours  $200

Visit our growing section on letterpress makeready and other techniques worth seeing or reviewing.

On-site Training - on your press - or service work on your press - or general letterpress consulting & training is also available:
$85/hour
+ 1 hour prep* + travel from 08825
* On-site training or service requires 1 hour in shop prep of travel kit for your particular situation.
DESCRIPTION
DETAILS NOTE: THESE RATES ONLY APPLY TO TRAINING/TUTORING AT THE EXCELSIOR PRESS IN FRENCHTOWN, NJ
PRICE
AVAILABLE
BASIC SUBJECTS WE KNOW WELL
Platen Press Adjustments
4 hours with your press or ours - fix pretty much anything that's wrong with your press, level the platen, adjust ink roller height, mount tympan and solve just about any problem that's preventing your press from printing as it should.
$150
yes

Excelsior Press 101
4 hours - Introduction to setting up and printing on the Kelsey Excelsior Press - your press or ours. Locking up the form. Setting make ready and gauge pins.
Building a frisket. Ink up and print!
$150
yes
Hand Typesetting 101
4 hours - Set some type, print a poem or a card - what ever you want - on one of the platen presses or Vandercooks
$150
yes
Typesetting
4+ hours of Hand Composition, Ludlow Slug Casting, Linotype/Intertype basic operation & form makeup
$150
on hold for 2012
One day
Intro to Letterpress
4+ hours hands-on printing on a variety of presses
Make frame-able prints from engravings on the Vandercook. Set some hand type. Proof it on the Vandercook. Mix some ink. Print 50 or more cards or sheets on a hand-fed platen press - Pilot, Pearl, Chandler & Price, Golding "Official", Victor or Kelsey.
$150 spring/summer
Vandercook Flatbed cylinder
Press work
4+ hours printing on the Vandercook Model 4
and 1914 Vandercook Model 17 Proof Press
and
Vandercook Model 99 galley proofer
$150 spring/summer
C&P Platen Presswork
4+ hours maintenance, adjustments and hands-on printing on the 10x15 C&P
$150
yes
Heidelberg Windmill Presswork
4+ hours maintenance, adjustments and hands-on printing on the 10x15 Heidelberg Windmill Platen Press
$150 yes
Colt's Armory Press work
4+ hours hands-on printing on the 10x15 Colt's Armory Press
$150
soon
Bench Top Printing
4+ hours hands-on printing on a Kelsey or Golding Official Table Top platen press
(C&P Old Style Pilot Press to be available soon)
$150
yes
Typesetting and printing
4+ hours of hand and/or machine composition and printing on any equipment listed abovel
$150
yes
Print YOUR JOB*
Bring your paper, photo-polymer plates or metal engravings, and/or set some type and use our ornaments and presses to PRINT YOUR OWN CLIENT PROJECT.

* Note: Printing your own client project can be a bit tricky. Things can take longer than expected; things can go wrong - just like in your own studio. PYOP requires planning and pre-visit discussion regarding what you would like to do. Multiple colors, front and back printing, for example, should not be attempted in one day. Some work may require two days. The ink must dry before printing a second color or side. Call to discuss 908 627-2730
$50/hour
or by job estimate
yes
MISC
The Practice of Printing
by R.W.Polk
High School/Trade School Text book
THE classic printer's manual
$45
0 3
Kelsey's Printer's Guide
An excellent, clean 8 1/2 x 11 reproduction (by Thomas Roberson - the
Scan Wizard) of Kelsey's famous printing course - more readable than the original!
$16
yes
Kelsey's Printer's Guide Original print (by Kelsey) of the small sized printer's Guide
$12
1
Consulting, Training, Tutoring
customized to your needs - at my shop or yours
$85/hour
yes
Photo polymer Platemaking
and printing
One-day Seminar
- make, print from  (and take home) your own photopolymer plates
- from our stock art negatives or from your original art
- traditional wooden engraving mounting bases, NAGraphics magnetic bases
or the premier and perfectly machined Boxcar Press bases available.
$250
call for availability
ON-SITE REPAIR , SET UP &/OR ADJUSTMENT

On-Site Repair, Set-Up &/or Adjustment - Or tutoring on your press in your shop
$85/hour
plus travel




Presses & Equipment available
- Kelsey Excelsior, Heidelberg Windmill, Chandler & Price, Vandercook Presses & other tools and machinery for Sale



* KIT - C&P - includes 6 wedge quoins, (with key or shooting stick)  reglet, gauge pins, starter font of wood furniture, tympan packing.
*
KIT - Heidelberg - high speed quoins with wrench, reglet, furniture, packing as above.
* KIT - Kelsey Presses - one set of tympan sheets, 3x5, 5x8 or 6x10 furniture starter kit, reglet, steel chase bars, gauge pins
* "SOON" means that the press is in the shop and is scheduled for restoration
Excelsior Press USED presses, restored to good operating condition.
note: These are NOT The fully repainted Restorations shown on our restorations page
We print with any of these presses before it is sold.
DESCRIPTION DETAILS PRICE
(press only)
ROLLERS
& TRUCKS
KIT*
awaiting
restoration
AVAILABLE* Packing & Crating or loading
Kelsey Excelsior size 3x5 $650 incl.
$90 9
n/a $40
Kelsey Hand Press
size 5x8 $1350 incl. $90 6
n/a $50
Kelsey Hand Press size 6x10 $1750 incl. $90 3
sold $60
C&P Pilot Press 6x10, side-lever $2750 incl. $90 4
sold $75
Chandler & Price 8x12 New Series $1250-$1750
extra $90 3
2-soon $125
Chandler & Price 10x15 New Series $1500 extra $90 1
sold
$150
Heidelberg Windmill 10x15
$4500 incl. $90 1
1 $125
Vandercook Model 4 - in restoration $10,000
extra $125
 sold
$125
Challenge
Proof Press
12x18  - in restoration
$tbd extra 125 1
not yet $125
Mini Vandercook "Showcard"
Proof Press
Prints sheet to
8 x 11"
$625 none
1
sold n/a
various Vandercook Galley Proof Presses

$450-650
none

5
to be restored

Hammond Glider Trim-o-Saw
in like-new condition
$950 ---
---
----
yes
tbd
moving/shipping available.
Other presses are currently scheduled for restoration.Check back or inquire please.
Chandler
                        & Price Platen Press
 
Lou with two
                                  pressesOther Table Top Presses - Fully Restored
by Lou in Pawtucket, Rhode Island ~~  Photo gallery of Lou's Restorations


* note: 6/15/15 -
After nearly ten years restoring presses,  Lou has retired from press restoration and no longer restores and sells presses.
Fully Reconditioned
                      Kelsey5x8 Press
More.... SEE BELOW FOR OTHER PRESSES FOR SALE BY PRIVATE OWNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY


Numbering Machines
DESCRIPTION DETAILS PRICE AVAILABLE
 Roman, forward

$25 2

    Numbering Machine Photo to come


Miscellaneous Other Items

DESCRIPTION DETAILS PRICE AVAILABLE
 Ink Rollers 12x18 C&P or Kluge $75 0
Books
Polk:Practice Of Printing (1926)
$45
1

  Photos to come 





Shipping 
Please note that we may charge a separate fee for other than USPS Flat-Rate packing, but will only charge you the actual cost of shipping + insurance.
(Insurance rate based upon value of contents)
to keep things simple, where we can use USPS Flat Rate or Regional Rate packaging, we just round up or down to charge $5, $10 or $15 shipping - plus insurance where appropriate.
*We will be adding Regional Rate size and rate info to the chart below.

(Outdated) Rates as of Aug, 2011



RATES CHANGE OVER TIME....
Rates 2011

March, 2019
PACKING
small Flat Rate Box
 

1.10

medium/large Flat Rate Box
$.30-$1.05

1.65-2.00
CRATING
items requiring wooden crating
$15-$250*

$25-$250*
Insurance
USPS insurance based upon value of contents
$2 per $100 value

???
USPS FLAT RATE SHIPPING (August, 2011) - outdated
2-3 day delivery to 48 states
USPS
rate

We
Charge
international
rate**


Small FRB 5-3/8" x 8-5/8" x 1-5/8" $ 4.85 $5.00
$11-13
$7.90
Medium FRB 11" x 8-1/2 x 5-1/2" or
13-5/8 x 11-7/8 x 3-3/8"
$ 10.20
$10.00
$25-42
$14.35
Large FRB
12" x 12" x 5 1/2"
$13.95 15.00
$33-54
$19.95
Regional Rate
varies, but less than Flat Rate




Type Cases - shipped USPS, custom packed - $4.00 packing


2/3 size - 17x22"
 1- $12.00 3+ /$8.00 each
5 lbs
$16

?
Full sized 18x33"
 1- $15.00 3+ /$9.50 each 9 lbs
$19

?






Small Packages - where cost is less than Flat or Regional Rates
$2.00-4.00  ?

* Other based upon weight and dimensions & cost of packing materials



** Overseas shipping is available, but it takes time, costs more and can get complicated... We're not very experienced (yet), but we'll do our best.


To place an order:


First, an apology. This page began simply as a place to list some spare equipment we had for sale. But it has grown quite a bit since then and really should be replaced by a proper shopping cart. We are working on putting together a proper shopping cart to make things easier, but until then, please bear with us. We're doing the best we can with very limited resources.

For now, please use our standard contact form, but include in the comments field:
  1. your name
  2. your mailing address:
    1. street
    2. city
    3. state
    4. zip code
  3. your email
  4. website, if you have one
  5. phone number
  6. the press you use and
  7. a list of the items you need.
    • Stock # | Description | price
(Hopefully, soon we'll have a form online to make this easier for both of us, but for now, this is the best I can offer.)

We will respond by email with a link to your packing list. Once you approve the order, and we have it ready to ship, we will upgrade the packing list to an invoice with a PayPal "Pay Now" button that will transfer our information for your order to Paypal where you can make payment using your own Paypal account or a major credit card. Once payment has been received via PayPal, we will use their easy-label service to print postage and will deliever your box to the post office first thing the next morning. You will receive tracking info via email.

Please note in your order if you would rather pay another way and we will try to accomodate your request.

We ship orders of 12 oz or less via USPS First Class Mail and generally use USPS Flat Rate boxes for all heavier items.
We can make a carton or crate to accomodate anything we sell, but some orders will require special packing and shipping quotes.

Thanks, Alan

TOP OF PAGE  SHIPPING INFO
And there's more!
  • Watch soon for NEW letterpress print shop furniture from Ed Thompson, the last of three generations of Thompsons who have been making fine wood & metal workbenches, cabinets and other tools and furniture for print shops as Thompson Cabinet Company - catalog pages (partial)
  • 10/25/07: We are hoping to soon be able to offer Kelsey Press INK TABLES for sale.
  • 10/26/07: we are also preparing some "just like Kelsey" Excelsior Press "Complete Printing Outfits" which will include type, composing stick, leads & slugs, furniture & reglet, type cases, quoins & keys, tympan packs, gauge pins and the Kelsey Printer's Guide. Watch here for an announcement or add your name to our "I'm interested" waiting list.
  • See how our equipment is prepared for shipping - The Pilot Press Crating and Packing

Also - equipment for sale by other people. See if they have what you need

Individuals

NEW 9/1/16: See ALL LISTINGS OF ALL PRESSES AVAILABLE from their owners (not us)

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