Can you help us identify this press?
Through a donation from the Dutch National Topographic Services the Nederlands Steendrukmuseum came in 2008 alongside a large batch of litho stones with topographic maps also in the possession of a remarkable looking press. On the press we see the year of 1843 and the city name Delft. It is almost certain that the press played a role in the printing of topographic maps. Remarkable are the two sets of beautifully finished legs which activate the press. But why three legs? Yes, similar legs occur in the flag of the Isle of Man. But what might the connection be?
Hopkinson & Cope
Today Herwig Kempenaers, owner of Historische Drukkerij Turnhout surprised our museum with the message that he had discovered in the Journal für Buchdruckerkunst, Schriftgiesserei und die verwandten Fächer, no. 8 of the year 1836 an image of a press with more or less the same legs in connection with the company Hopkinson & Cope. So, does that mean that our press is probably (partly?) of English make? Perhaps the frame only was built in the Netherlands?
Athol standing Press
On the published image in the magazine we read the following words: “In der Nro 5 of Journals abgebildeten vom Mechanikus Deisler in Coblenz verfertigten Spindel Presse muss nachträglich notices were, dass Sie eigentlich eine Erfindung des Herrn Hopkinson, New North Street, Finsburry, London, ist. . managers Elbe fertigt Sie unter dem Namen ‘Athol standing Press’ in zwei verschiedenen formats, uns zwar eine grosse zum Pressen und Glatten of Papiere, eine andere zum Gebrauch der Buchbinder Von der letzteren geben wir in Figure 3 eine Perspectivansicht Übrigens ist… here which Bemerkung am Orte rights, dass die von Herrn Deisler gefertigte Spindle Presse nach dem Urtheil Derer, welche Sie zu sehen Gelegenheit Hatten, vorzüglich solid gearbeitet sein soll. ”
Any additional information would be very welcome!
Meanwhile a smaller version of our press seems to be on display in the Printing Museum in Rome.
Please contact: directie@steendrukmuseum.nl attn. Frank van Oortmerssen