Craftsmen Superior 6.5"x10" Letterpress Craftsman Printing Press C&p Pilot Clone

US $2,150.00

Lockhart, Texas, United States
Aug 19th

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1970s Craftsmen Superior 6.5” x 10” letterpress - C&P Pilot Clone Up for grabs here is a very nicely restored, late model 6.5” x 10” Superior model letterpress manufactured by Craftsmen Machinery of Massachusetts. Essentially, this press is a well-made clone of the legendary Chandler and Price Pilot new series presses. Unlike many larger letterpresses, this little gem combines a versatile size print area with a very manageable weight and footprint … it’s perfect for a smaller studio space or beginning letterpresser! Craftsmen has a long history, going back three generations (according to a 1955 catalog anyway!) to at least the 1930s. This was surely among the much later presses they made, as indicated by the “Canada” casting on its drive yoke, as well as the presence of roll pins in its roller assembly. Craftsmen, unfortunately, didn’t use serial numbers, but my best guess would place this press in the mid to late 1970s, making it one of the newer letterpresses I’ve had the opportunity to work with. When I received it, the press was dirty, missing its rollers entirely, and clearly hadn’t been used in some time. I undertook to give it a full mechanical and cosmetic restoration and deep cleaning, beginning with disassembly and examination of all parts. What I found was a very pleasant surprise ... beneath the grime was a press that showed almost zero wear, and no breaks, welds, or other problems. It clearly has seen little use over the years, cleaned up beautifully, and needed very little to bring it back to better-than-new! No breaks, welds, or other issues typical with old cast-iron presses were found. The course of the restoration included: - Disassembly and thorough cleaning - Rust removal where needed (very slight) - Complete repaint in black - Disassembly and cleaning of roller assembly and replacement of roll pins - Cleaning of all oilways and shafts - Lubrication - Newly manufactured rollers, cores, and trucks (new and unused!) - New power recoil springs and eye bolts The press as she sits today is in as good if not better condition than when it left the factory. It operates perfectly, runs smoothly and quietly, and the ink disk rotates as it should. Gripper arm assembly is all original and functioning as it should. Included are two original chases as well as her original upper and lower feed tables. Brand new rollers! Remarkably, the beautiful blond finish on the wood is original. I polished and waxed it up, but it was just too nice to warrant refinishing. The blind wood looks just lovely with the black finish to my eye - very striking and sleek! Also included with the sale is a parts diagram that was probably original to the machine (it has a gold foil Craftsmen Machinery Company sticker on it) … a very useful thing to have for sure! Lastly, the press will include a boxcar base locked up into one of the chases, with two Hamilton high speed quoins and furniture. If you’re interested in printing with photopolymer plates, the Boxcar base is a great thing to have (and about a $150 accessory)! If you’re looking for a reliable and versatile press to start your adventures in letterpress printing but might have been intimidated by some of the, er, eccentricities, of many of the older models out there, this is a much newer machine to work with and should have a long life of trouble free service ahead. it would also be a wonderful addition to any collection, representing the very end of this era of printing history … quite literally among the last of its kind. LOCATION AND SHIPPING Press is located 25 miles or so southeast of Austin, Texas in the town of Lockhart. The press can be easily loaded by two people and will fit in any SUV or car with a decent size trunk. I’d estimate the weight at 175 lbs or so. Local pickup is highly preferred, but I’m glad to deliver to the shipper of your choice if that’s something you’re interested in. Shipping presses, however, can be both a risky and expensive venture. Please be aware of all costs (including freight and crating as needed) before bidding, as these will be fully the responsibility of the buyer. I am more than happy to assist as needed, though! I may also be able to assist with delivery in the Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, or Houston areas. Please contact me directly if this is an option you'd like to explore. TERMS & CONDITIONS Payment is expected in full within three days of auction's close. I'm glad to accept paypal, certified check, or cash on pickup. Once payment is made, I'm glad to store the press for as long as needed (within reason) if you're planning to pick the press up. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS I've taken more than 100 photos of the press from just about every conceivable angle so the buyer will know exactly what they're getting. Please review these photos carefully as they're an honest and accurate representation of the press' condition. Ebay prohibits me linking to the photos, but you can find them by googling "c_rorrer1 flickr" and click on the Albums tab. if you have any trouble finding them, just drop me a note. Glad to help! If you've made it this far, thanks for reading and sorry to be long winded ... there's a LOT to say about this wonderful old press, though! Please ask any and all questions you may have and I will do my best to answer promptly and honestly. I’ve been on eBay for well over 20 years and have a long history of happy customers. Thanks for looking and good luck!

Condition:	Seller refurbished: The item has been restored to working order by the eBay seller or a third party. This means the item was inspected, cleaned, and repaired to full working order and is in excellent condition. This item may or may not be in original packaging. See seller’s listing for full details. ...	Model	Superior
Brand	Craftsmen Machinery Co.
Material	Cast Iron
Type	Letterpress