We’re about to get our hands dirty and tackle our third press. Like our previous Pearls, we will be cleaning, priming and painting our Old Style C&P 10×15.
As we go along, I’ll be documenting it all here. I’ll be calling it Project Press Restoration 3, PPR3 for short. To make it easier to follow along, I’ve added a new press restoration blog category to contain all of the posts. This new category also includes posts from our previous restoration projects – our first + second Pearl presses.
In addition to cleaning, priming + painting our C&P, we will also be sourcing parts to convert it to a treadle-operated press. And, there are a couple of parts that it didn’t come with but we will need for printing, so we will be sourcing those, too. Here’s a list of the parts we need. Except for the base + rollers, we hope to find originals.
- platen
- rollers
chase- treadle
- treadle connecting parts
- Boxcar base
- side feed board
This particular press was used for die cutting. It didn’t have a chase and the platen is pretty chewed up because a jacket wasn’t used for the die cutting. We will either be machining down the platen or getting another one to replace it. Right now we’re assessing the damage and working on price quotes for each option.
I’ve already crossed out #3 because an original Old Style chase has been tracked down, ordered and should be coming in very soon.
We have a lot of work ahead of us but we are very excited about the challenge. We’re looking forward to it being finished and printing away in our studio!
In August, I just purchased my first press—a New Style C&P 10×15. It was also used almost exclusively for die cutting from 1941 until just last year. I’m in about the same boat in terms of parts and TLC time needed, so it’s nice to find your blog and read about your progress as I prepare to get started with mine! Happy restoration to you!