Letterpress Roller Supporters/Bearers for an 8 x 12 C&P Press or similar press

Description

Offered:
Extremely hard to find size, 8" steel Roller Supporters/Bearers for an 8" x 12" letterpress press chase (inside chase measurement). Offering includes a set of two identical 8" roller bearers/supporters.
These are used roller supporters that have been refurbished carefully cleaned of all residual ink.
Both supporters are in good usable condition and are not bent, twisted or cracked. These are manufactured of a heavy gauge steel. There are no manufacturers trademark or other identifying markings on either roller supporter.
Please Note:
Chase shown in pictures is for display purposes and indicates where roller bearers should be placed in chase. Chase and furniture not included in this offering.
If you own an 8" x 12" Chandler & Price Old or New series press, Gordon, Golding Jobber No. 6 or a similarly sized letterpress press, this will work. If you own a press that has a similar size chase dimension, this should work provided the inside chase measurement is eight inches (8") top to bottom of inside chase.
Dimensions of bearers are as follows,
Approx. overall length and width of portion that rollers travel over when inserted into chase................... 9 1/16" x 1/2"
Approx. length of metal tab that is inserted into chase and locked in with furniture & form....................... 7 7/8"
It seems roller supporters may be a best kept secret to most modern-day letterpress printers. It is definitely worth adding this under-utilized letter
press tool to your shop's arsenal. Supporters were available in a multitude of sizes. Kelsey Co. offered them as small as 3 inches for their 3 x 5 press up to their largest tabletop press the 9 x12. American Type Founders offered an even larger range of sizes in their early Letterpress Type Specimen & Equipment Catalogs.
P
lease read below for more information on uses.
The following information was lifted from the 1912
ATF Type and equipment catalog:
"Steel Roller Supporters for job presses, these are among the best supporters yet devised. They only occupy one - quarter of an inch of the inside space of the chase; they ease the pressure of the rollers on the form, prevent over inking and save rollers from cutting, as they are three-quarters of an inch wide on top."
The roller supporters /bearers I'm offering are similar to the item described above. These are ideal on tabletop presses as well as larger floor model presses.
For the benefit of printers who have never used bearers or are uncertain of their use I have included the following from "Elementary Platen Presswork" by Ralph W. & Edwin Polk.
Bearers on small forms:
When a very small form, such as an envelope card, or a small letterhead form, is to be printed, there may be difficulty in getting a clear print without showing too much impression on the rear of the sheet. This difficulty may be overcome by use of type-high bearers in the lock-up. These serve to equalize the pressure on the platen and relieve the type from much of the punch accompanying the impression. They also save wear on the rollers and give a more even distribution of ink on small forms.
Protection of rollers:
Ink rollers may be damaged by striking the sharp ends of rules placed vertically in the chase. One form of protection of rollers is use of type-high bearers, which hold the rollers to the proper height and keep them revolving normally as they strike the type form."
PLEASE NOTE: When supporters /bearers of any kind are used, the grippers must be set to strike between the form and the supporter /bearers, on each side. The gripper must NEVER strike a bearer, as damage would be done to press, or bearer, or both.
This offering will ship via USPS Priority Mail.
Shipping includes full insurance coverage as well as USPS Tracking. USPS Priority Mail delivers in 2 - 3 business day to most locations in the USA. All purchases are shipped no later than next business day.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions in regard to this offering.