The Press: Golding Jobber No. 6
Our main press at Expedition is an 8×12 Golding Jobber No. 6, built in 1901 and still running strong. Running beautifully. She’s petite when it comes to job presses, weighing in at a mere 700 lbs. These presses are more common on the East Coast, where they were manufactured at the turn of the (last) century.
Due to the difficulty of moving them, not too many traveled all the way out here to the West Coast. In my Golding research, I ran across a fellow by the name of John Falstrom, a veritable fount of knowledge when it comes to these presses. Knowledge which he is happy to share. I also found a scanned copy of the original catalog and parts diagram online, courtesy of the American Amateur Press Association. Isn’t the internet wonderful?
A hundred years later, they’re still difficult to move. The most stressful moments of the trip from Stern & Faye to Expedition were when the press was 6 feet off the ground, swinging through the air into and out of the truck. Sure, she was palletized. Strapped down with ratchet straps rated to 1000 lbs, shrink-wrapped head to foot, ink plate, feed table, and rollers removed and packed away safely in their own boxes. But still. Six FEET off the GROUND. Enough to make any printer feel faint.
But we made it, and we’re here, and we’re printing up a storm. My printing capacity expanded enormously when this press arrived and we’re happily getting to know each other. We built new feet for her, a rock solid custom base from 2x6s. Next up is to outfit the altered treadle with a slimmer attachment so the third roller can be added back on. If anyone has a line on a spare original ‘G’ treadle for this press, I’m all ears! That’s all she requires to be restored to her full glory.
And glorious indeed she is.
