what kind of platen press? and some questions

Hello everyone,I thinking about working for myself with a platen press. I would like to buy a Chandler and Price 8×12 or 10×15 with a treadle but someone told me about a Andruckpress FAG:http://proofpress.ch/printmakers-presses-pressmodel/?control-405Do one of you know this press? What would you recommend to start a little business?To finish, will someone accept to comunicate by mail with me? i have many questions about managing a little “letterpress studio”.Thanks in advanceMarion

Perhaps the more important question to ask is what am I interested in printing/think I can make a living printing.  Are you looking at wedding/stationery?  Broadsides/posters?  Business cards etc??

Surprised your friends didn’t gush about Vandercooks, since that seems to be a very popular press.  The FAG is the Swiss version of the Vandercook.  The cylinder proof press (which is represented by Vandercook/Asbern/FAG is great for highly controlled printing (in terms of ink, impression, and register) but they are slow and ill suited for long run work (50 +).  Unless you have a fully automatic version, you will be cranking the roller carriage a lot, to the point where it presents an occupational health problem.  They are also highly coveted and tend to be more expensive to acquire. 

The Chandler and Price, and other platens of similar (Gordon patent) design have their own problems, namely the danger of injury from getting the hands caught in the closing platen.  However, they are a much faster machine, better suited for longer runs.  They are not as strong for printing large solids, and will struggle with large impressional loads on soft papers (Lettra).  Platens are much cheaper to acquire, and are generally more robust if kept up.

So far as the whole starting a business thing?  Well, that’s a giant can of worms for sure and I imagine many others are conversing with you about this issue.  Best of luck with that.

Hello Michael,Thanks a lot for your answer and your advices, i was most interested in buying a platen press as a chandler and similar,it would be more compatible with my business (wedding announcement, post cards, visit cards). Great to have an other point of view!About how to managing a business i don’t find anyone to exchange with me by mail, if you know someone who would accept to help me?!Have a nice day and thanks again.

I have a C&P.  They are by no means an easy, fast machine, they take time , patience and care. They have their quirks, sweet spots and are at times very frustrating (especially when printing lines of text) because its age (mine just turned 100) the rails are worn unevenly, and it has worn spots in the shaft.  It has taken a year of getting to know how he runs to be able to nut out where the issues are and how to fix them. Pretty sure I have to re-level the platen again! If you can source one from someone that has been using it, and are prepared to explain its quirks then you are ahead, otherwise, its a case of learning on the job. 🙂

C&P platen is the way to go to start – go with a smaller one. I have a 12 x 18 & 10 x 12 and I use the smaller one daily (Matilda) Beatrice really barely gets inked up – only for posters. pic of them here http://www.letterpressoftulsa.com

Thanks a lot for your answer, i will chek your link ;)Happy printing!

I just re-read my comment and it sounds really negative!  Didn’t mean to be at all! Love my presses, the quirks make it more interesting!

“the quirks make it more interesting!” I am agree with you. Thanks for your mind it’s really interesting to have other point of view!

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