After two months of struggle — finding it a home, finding a way of transporting it, finding a way to replace the part the fell off the truck during transport — my Golding Jobber No. 8 letterpress sprang to life again.
Profound credit goes to Sergey, a true jack-of-all-trades, whose hours and hours of measuring, planning, fitting, grinding, filing, drilling, adjusting and wiring are the only reason at all the the press is working today; without Sergey it might have been spring before I managed to get it all together (if ever!). Here’s the video evidence (it’s an amazing machine to just sit and watch, let along for its ability to print!):
Comments
That's great!
That is an absolutely beautiful machine. I cannot wait to see it printing something (anyting).
Ooooo….. so beautiful! And the speed seems very ok, that is not so very fast is it? I am still waiting for the roller cords to arrive and there are still some work to do before my Mr. Jobber will move. But hey! Today is his birthday! According to Steven O Saxe, this #8 together with 19 brothers came out of the factory on dec.4 1900 :o)
The speed is good. It’s a little slower than when I purchased it as we moved the bicyle wheel that’s tacked onto the flywheel out about 6cm to allow us to use the same belt and move the motor a little closer to the press (originally it was hanging off the back about 20cm). I haven’t tried printing on it yet (soon!), but it seems to be a management open/close speed.
Happy birthday to your press! I’ve emailed Steve to ask him if he can help me find the provenance of my No. 8. Perhaps they are twins?
Looks good! Can't wait to see the first print job.
Why is it industrial things such as these have such soothing sounds and movement? There's real beuty there.
Watching it, I cannot help but think of the story of how Great Uncle Clayt lost his foot in some farm machninery.
*cough*
Be careful, Peter.
I have tremendous respect for the awesome power of the machine, and will do my best avoid the Great Uncle issues.