I think I am sure it’s the last damn press every time I add a new one. This little beauty is number 4. Its addition means I can barely move around the space in which I create the things I intend to print on it—a Catch 22 of sorts. I am equal parts glum and excited.
After placing an ad on Briar Press that I was after a Poco press, I heard from a fellow just 40 miles away who had a No 0 for sale. I went to see it and the following week I returned to hand over an envelope of cash and pick it up—which involved a shimmy up a couple of 4x4 posts and into the truck bed.
The press had been used by the previous owner, but I do not know when. It is missing its plaque and adjusting wrench (for tightening the slotted bar when the tympan is put on the cylinder). All the bed pins are present though and the bed does move back and forth, albeit stiffly. There is a good deal of grime on the frame (a rather horrid battleship grey over the original forest green), and an incredible layer of dust inside the cylinder. The cylinder was wrapped in an offset printing blanket, probably to make up for the gap created by the missing galley plate. This press is designed to have the type tied up in the galley and run through that way to pull a proof. Some people have adapted this press to do much finer work than it was designed to do, although I do not know how well that works.
Loaded in the truck
One unusual feature of this press: a gripper on the cylinder. When I got it home I took off the offset press blanket that was on the cylinder—and found some rust. I sanded and scraped it off, lubed up the rollers and gears, and cleaned the metal. I found a 12x18 galley that I will put in the bed. There was also a piece of steel in the bed, shimmed with a couple pieces of leading, which I thumped on with a hammer to remove. I found the serial number: G2352.
After blanket removal and some work on the rust
The next step, once I finish sanding it, is to get it into my shop. This will involve hiring a couple of brothers in the neighborhood, friends of my son. It weighs in at 210lbs and my husband is not interested in hurting his back moving a chunk of metal he cannot imagine why I need (I do not bother with explanations anymore).
One thing that has surprised me is the relative strength needed to turn the handle. My etching press has gearing which allows easy turning even under great pressure. Not so here. Also, the bed is only marginally adjustable so the wood type I purchased from Italy, didot high, isn’t going to work here. That gripper is going to be mighty handy though. Under the gripper are pins for the tympan, rather than having both ends in the slotted bar as I have seen with other Poco presses.
Next up: first printing jobs