Old-time Presses In A Modern World

—by Janet R. Gross and Bob Neubauer

Presses Of The Past

You may think your old press deserves an award for its age, but some of the presses used in old-style print operations around the country hail from the 19th century.

The shop at Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts has two letterpresses—an 1830s Acorn, which had been in the museum collection for about 50 years, and a reproduction of the same vintage used as a proof press, made and assembled on site about three years ago.