1875 CINCINNATI TYPE FOUNDERS HAND PRESS
According to its emblem, this 25” x 39” hand press was manufactured by the Cincinnati Typefounders & Warehouse on October 26, 1875. The Cincinnati Type Foundry was founded in 1817 by Oliver Wells, and originally served as a branch office of the Elihu White Type Foundry in New York. They incorporated their business in 1830 and began to manufacture presses and printing equipment in addition to type. A decade later, the company hired Henry Barth, who expanded their catalog with newly invented cylinder presses and casting machinery. During the American Civil War, Barth’s oversaw the production of the army press, a portable press that was used to publish news from the battlefield. The Cincinnati Type Foundry merged with 23 other businesses in 1892 to form American Type Founders, or ATF.
Many of the presses manufactured by the Cincinnati Type Foundry were not nearly as elaborate as this one. The brightly painted cannons and flags on the top of the press are probably representative of the American patriotism the company wanted to embody after the end of Civil War.
This press was donated by Jeff Craemer in 2010 and is currently on view in the main gallery of the Museum.
