Antique Laying Press or Lying Press for Bookbinding, Spine Repair, US $8700 – Picture 0

Antique Laying Press or Lying Press for Bookbinding, Spine Repair, US $8700 – Picture 1

Antique Laying Press or Lying Press for Bookbinding, Spine Repair, US $8700 – Picture 2

Antique Laying Press or Lying Press for Bookbinding, Spine Repair, US $8700 – Picture 3

Antique Laying Press or Lying Press for Bookbinding, Spine Repair, US $8700 – Picture 4

Antique Laying Press or Lying Press for Bookbinding, Spine Repair, US $8700 – Picture 5

Antique Laying Press Or Lying Press For Bookbinding, Spine Repair

US $8700

Williams Bay, Wisconsin, United States
Mar 12th

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This ingenious antique device is apparently known as a Laying Press, or Lying Press, and probably dates from between around 1880 and 1920. The faces of two pieces of hardwood, 27.5-cm (nearly 11-inches) long, and 125-cm (1 1/4-inches) wide, may be forced together by tightening an ingenious wheel, a ratchet below the handle. The twine slips through a narrow slot on the flat bottom (or it would if there were no knots holding the original twine together). I've shown the unit completely closed and about as wide open as it will get given the somewhat shortened tied-together twine. Replace the repaired string with fresh twine, and, you will be able to move the pieces of wood much farther apart. This is the PERFECT device for pressing pages together to repair a book binding. And, I'm certain you can come up with additional uses, unless you simply want to display it. Embossed twice on the upper exterior are two initials, perhaps Wm. A., followed by the name WATSON. This may be the company that manufactured this device, or, it may be the name of the previous owner. Will ship anywhere within the USA for $4.00, to Canada for $9.95, or, anywhere else (the UK, Germany, France, Russian Federation, China, etc., etc.) for $15.00. IF I've overestimated the shipping costs by one dollar or more, I will cheerfully reimburse you the difference. Please see my many other auctions which feature a variety of mysterious and fascinating items ranging from vintage comic books, scarce meteorites, toys, antiques, vintage camera gear, and, other collectibles. Also, please note that, with over 3300 feedbacks, I have a 99.6% Positive Feedback Rating. For more than six years, it was 100%. Just this February, someone gave me my first ever Negative Feedback owing to a shipping delay (oh well).