Lowe Press No. 2 press

Description:

Samuel W. Lowe of Philadelphia invented the Lowe printing press, an unusual conical cylinder press patented in 1856. Like Adams's Cottage printing press, it did not include a frisket and included an automatic tympan. The rights for the press were sold in 1858 to Joseph Watson, who marketed both presses in Boston and Philadelphia.

The Lowe printing press does not appear to have been as heavily advertised as the Adams, although the company notes that we have sold many presses … to druggists … in this country and in other lands. Every boy and business man seems to be having one.

As for portability, the Lowe was more than a third lighter than the Adams, ranging from between 12 and 120 pounds as compared to Adams's press at between 100 and 400 pounds. The Lowe used a simpler frame and relatively thin castings.

Date Made: ca 1860Patent Date: 1856

Maker: Lowe, Samuel W.

Place Made: United States: Massachusetts, Boston

Used: Civil WarPrinting

Subject:

See more items in: Work and Industry: Graphic Arts, Military, Cultures & Communities, Communications, Industry & Manufacturing, Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection, Civil War Field Printing

Exhibition: Printing at Home

Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

Credit Line: Gift of Joseph H. Hennage

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1988.0650.03Accession Number: 1988.0650Catalog Number: 1988.0650.03

Object Name: press, printingObject Type: Letterpress

Physical Description: metal (overall material)wood (overall material)Measurements: overall: 9 3/4 in x 14 1/2 in x 26 in; 24.765 cm x 36.83 cm x 66.04 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-93b6-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1213009

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