Columbian Printing Press
Encyclopedia
The Columbian press was invented by George E. Clymer
, probably in 1813, inspired in some measure by the earlier Stanhope press. It was designed to allow a whole newspaper page to be printed in a single pull. The press worked by a lever system, similar to that of the Stanhope press and quite different from the toggle action of the slightler later English Albion press
. Clymer's new iron press was first advertised in April 1814. It went on to be manufactured in great numbers for over a century, in both America and the United Kingdom. It is sometimes, incorrectly, referred to as the 'Eagle' press due to the characteristic bald eagle
counterweight which usually sits on the top lever. Some Columbians have the counterweight in another form (a simple ornament, a lamp, urn, or simple knob).
George E. Clymer
George E. Clymer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was an American statesman, mechanic and inventor. In 1813 he invented the Columbian Printing Press. This was an iron, lever-operated replacement for the wooden screw presses based on Gutenberg's design.Clymer began making wooden presses of the...
, probably in 1813, inspired in some measure by the earlier Stanhope press. It was designed to allow a whole newspaper page to be printed in a single pull. The press worked by a lever system, similar to that of the Stanhope press and quite different from the toggle action of the slightler later English Albion press
Albion press
The Albion press is a model of early iron hand printing press, originally designed and manufactured in London by Richard Whittaker Cope around 1820. It worked by a simple toggle action, unlike the complex lever-mechanism of the Columbian press and the Stanhope press. Albions continued to be...
. Clymer's new iron press was first advertised in April 1814. It went on to be manufactured in great numbers for over a century, in both America and the United Kingdom. It is sometimes, incorrectly, referred to as the 'Eagle' press due to the characteristic bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
counterweight which usually sits on the top lever. Some Columbians have the counterweight in another form (a simple ornament, a lamp, urn, or simple knob).
External links
- Columbian Printing Press in the Collection of the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian InstitutionThe Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
- http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=60249Columbian Printing Press in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa TongarewaMuseum of New Zealand Te Papa TongarewaThe Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
] - Printing Yesterday and Today
- http://www.printmuseum.org/International Printing MuseumInternational Printing MuseumThe International Printing Museum, in Carson, California, has one of the largest collections of antique printing presses in the United States. It offers educational programs for school groups at the museum, and also has a Ben-Franklin-type printing press on a trailer that travels to schools and...
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