I need to get rid of an antique printing press

[Joe Shlabotnik]

The company that I work for had this left in a vacant unit by a defunct printing company, now they've leased out the space and want to get rid of it. It probably weighs about 500 lbs, and I think its all there and maintained. If I still owned my house, I'd take it and stick it in my backyard garden or something. I'm sure it has some value, but quite a limited market, any ideas?

[IMG][/IMG]

[evlbstrd]

1. Look for a letterpress shop.

For example their's a shop in my city opened by an artist who prints beautiful work with equipment like that.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

2. Thats a start, thanks

The problem is I live in a depressed rust belt area, and I get a feeling there aren't many companies like that around here, but I'll search for a small business like that.

[kentauros]

11. What about artist enclaves?

Anyone who makes their own paper might have a use for it, too. Or other artists that like to experiment with printing.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

12. maybe, thats why I'm trying to think about schools also

I'd really prefer this thing to go to the best possible use. I can't emphasize enough of what a 'dead' community I live in though. Its wealthy conservative seniors in big houses and broke unemployed stragglers trying to survive. The downtown where an arts community should thrive; is a ghost town.

[kentauros]

13. Universities and colleges might take it,

but it might also be a harder sell than for people who already know how to use it. And when I said "enclaves" I meant more of places outside of where you live, sometimes around universities, and sometimes just in trendy areas.

What about consignment places?

[Orrex]

3. Does your town have a historical society of some kind?

They might be interested, if the defunct company features in the town's history in some way.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

4. I was going to look into that first actually,

and also the local university, and college. If I only had a place for it, for the short term at least, otherwise it could conceivably be sent for scrap metal. Personally I love old machines that work, and this thing just glides with a touch of a finger on the big wheel.

[Orrex]

5. Some day your prints will come.

Good luck!

[Joe Shlabotnik]

6. .

[jmowreader]

7. Put it on eBay

[Joe Shlabotnik]

8. I might,

but I'd hate to imagine the shipping fees Realistically I can't see it going beyond pickup truck distance, and that's assuming we can load it into a truck by hand, without personal injury liability or damage to the building if that crappy cart that its sitting on gives out. (we don't have any forklifts etc kicking around either).

[jmowreader]

9. You'd be surprised some of the shit people will ship

As for loading it...they'll bring a liftgate truck in and scoop it right up.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

10. ya, a liftgate truck would come in perfectly for this.

Its funny though, my company is so worried about liability, that when we re-did some old beds, we had a a few tons of riverstone to get rid of, and people wanted it, but management deemed it too much of an injury liability to give it way. It all went to the dump.

How much you wanna bet that tomorrow, when I try to move the disintegrating cart its sitting on, I end up with a broken leg.

[area51]

14. Maybe a lead?

There's a Houston Printing Museum, and though it probably isn't very close to you, maybe if you contact them, they might know of another place that might take the press.

http://printingmuseum.org/

[MrsMatt]

15. Your profile indicates you are in Ontario

I did a google search for letterpress shops Ontario and came up with this (maybe helpful?)

http://www.briarpress.org/yellowpages/browse?s=ON

[Joe Shlabotnik]

17. Ah thanks, that sounds like a good start

!

[eppur_se_muova]

16. try this Craigslist ad ...

http://providence.craigslist.org/wad/5346599349.html

[Joe Shlabotnik]

18. Thats a lead too

The one thing I was reading though is that the bulk and weight of these ones tend to drive away prospective buyers or recipients.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

19. Interesting twist today,

we tried to move it out of the vacant unit, and it was about 5 inches wider than the doorway. It was in here before the walls, and door frames were installed. If I can't disassemble this thing further in a hurry, then I don't know what were going to do. I'd hate to see someone with torch cut it up for scrap, but it could happen now.

[printingpress]

20. Update

Any chance you still have this or know where it is now? I am in search of one.

[Brother Buzz]

21. Update

Joe Shlabotnik has not posted since June, 2016

[Md.franko]

22. I got one.!!

I may have what ur looking for .. I got pics of this press. Get in touch .! Hope to hear from u

[Md.franko]

23. Washington hand press available

I have a Washington hand press I’m trying to find a home for.. im in southern Indiana if interested get in touch with me .