We came across this scan of the original operating instructions and parts list for the Chandler & Price Pilot Press (New Style). While the Pilot and other tabletop presses are simple in design and operation as compared to other presses, the manual can be helpful is you are looking for missing parts or trying to assemble/disassemble the press.
The manual contains detailed instructions on the assembly of the Pilot and also how to set the press up to print. In addition, there are also several detailed schematics of the press that label every part with an identification number and name.
You can download the file here: C&P Pilot Manual
If you’ve got a Pilot, good luck with it, its a great machine! Even if you don’t have a Pilot, the manual is an interesting read.
Since I have starting printing on the pilot, I have had some issues with my gripper arms. One issue being that it is leaving marks on my paper and the other being that sometimes my paper and image are the same size so the gripper arms get in the way. Even though the gripper arms are causing me some headaches, nevertheless they are extremely necessary for the press. Since the ink is extremely “tacky” the gripper arms prevent the paper from sticking to the image plate. Therefore, allowing for a nice crisp image instead of a smeared one. So how do you fix these problems? I have devised a way that works well for me.
One way to solve this issue is to move your gripper arms to opposite ends. Make your paper larger than the printable area and when your image is dry, trim the excess paper off. This solution is great however, this will NOT work is your paper is precut, such as when I had ordered some folded A2 size cards from Paper Source www.paper-source.com. To solve this problem, I just use a rubber band. How simple is this? I just put the rubber band around the platen (please see pictures below for details). Now that your gripper arm problem has been fixed, you will have nice, crisp, clean images (hopefully).
hint: I also use some photo corners to hold down the botton of the card. This is a great solution if you are MISSING your gripper arms. (These machines are old so chances are you will be missing some pieces).
Rubberband holding back the A2 card.
Notice the photo corners holding down the bottom of the card.
Ok, so I know I just bought a C&P pilot but while checking out www.briarpress.org, (I can’t help it, this website is addicting) I found someone less than a half mile away from my apartment selling a Poco proof press. What are the chances that someone near me was selling a letterpress? Of course, I had to buy it. The Poco No 2 printing area is alot larger than the pilot so I thought this would be a great second press for me. The size is 18 x 25 so its managable to have in my apartment. The Poco weighs about 406lbs (without the cabinet) so between my boyfriend and my brother they were able to move it (disassembled of course!). Wow did that save me alot of money by not having to hire movers!
The Poco press was made to do “proofs” and according to www.fiveroses.org “not at all suited to careful impression, precision registration, or runs of more than a few copies”. Wanting to learn more about this press I did a google search and found a man by the name of Neil Giroux who uses this press to do precision multi color work. I emailed Neil to see how he did it. He actually engineered a frisket that was able to make a perfect registration. Wanting to help me, he sent me pictures of how the frisket looks and told me I can even stop to see it in person. Goes to show you how helpful and generous the letterpress community is. Everyone I have come across in the letterpress community has been more than willing to give advice.
Below are the pictures Neil sent me to help me with the Poco registration. Check them out!
Cranking the closed form through.
Makeshift roller bearers, set type high, to allow even ink distribution by brayer.
Setting work on “other side” of press.
Notice the hook on the ceiling. No detail left untouched!
