Andrew T Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Picked up this press today. Looks like it was originally a small motorized friction press. Has leather band on flywheel and flats on casting for bolting arms. It has a 2.75" diam. 3 lead screw and the arch frame is 6" square in cross section. If I could figure out all the parts and linkages, it would be fun to set it up as a friction press again, but I may just use it manually. When I grab the wheel with both hands and spin it as hard as I can into some steel it absorbs all the force without a squeak, it's quite heavy. The flywheel seems a bit light to develop maximum force when used manually, I may add some weight. The green press came with the deal, does it look like someone modified a book binding press? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hammer Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 That tool has serious potential.... I suggest searching for a picture of the original configuration. Then you can decide if you want to ressurect it to its original form.... If there is a manufacturers name plate, just google for "manufacturer press", asking for images. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 5, 2010 Share Posted May 5, 2010 Putting it back in driven condition would be quite a job---may even be cheaper to buy one with the drive still in place than trying to fab another. Keep your eyes open for a broken one you cough get the components off of cheap! That green one looks a bit like a vulcanizing press and it would be good for book binding; but probably not so much for metalworking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew T Posted May 5, 2010 Author Share Posted May 5, 2010 Thanks for the replies. There is no tag or name cast into the frame that I can see, seems a bit odd. Looks like a different make than the photos I've seen of other friction presses. I've seen several Hopkins style presses with the larger flywheel and a 2 lead screw. This one seems quite unusual. I agree, it would be big job to resurrect it as a powered press. For the meantime I will use it manually as a companion to my #6 Indian press. Here's a photo of my "Charles Stecher Co" press, it seems identical to presses labeled "Hopkins". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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