Shaker Press

“The Shakers: America’s Quiet Revolutionaries”  is a fantastic temporary exhibition at the New York State Museum, located in Albany, New York. In addition to shaker artifacts, there are a number of gorgeous WPA-era photographs of shaker communities. Another part of the exhibition focuses on inventions, which include a flat broom, washing machine, water turbine, folding steroscope, swivel foot for chair legs, and many others.

I particularly liked their very simple method to turn a press screw, pictured below. Usually this is one of the most complicated areas of a press.  By simply offsetting the holes ninety degrees, a tommy bar (called a press pin in bookbinding) can be alternately inserted to complete full rotations from one side of the press. Genius! Also note the simple two part platen holder, which looks a little rinky-dink but apparently has functioned for many years.

press
A Double Cheese Press. https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/exhibits/special/shakers.cfm.  My Photo.

 

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Detail of double cheese press. https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/exhibits/special/shakers.cfm. My Photo.

One Reply to “Shaker Press”

  1. I put a photo of hand tools for clog-making on my instagram Jeff, #incline_press

    If interested and you aren’t able to access them, email me and I’ll try and send them direst.

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