Ramage foolscap press

Description (Brief):

This table-top wooden press was made by Adam Ramage of Philadelphia in about 1840. Its tympan is missing and frisket includes a modern table. The press is stamped on the original brass label: “A RAMAGE / PATENT / NO 189.” Its height (without table) measures 38 inches, its width, at cheeks, 20.5 inches, and its length 37 inches. The platen measures 12.5 inches by 16.5 inches.

Description (Brief)

Adam Ramage built wooden presses in three sizes: a full-size common press, an intermediate free-standing press which he called his “screw press,” and the smallest, the “foolscap,” named for the size of sheet (13.5 x 8.5 inches) that it would print. Foolscap presses, sturdier than the screw presses, were sold in good numbers for about $65. After Ramage’s death in 1850, foolscap presses were made for some years by his successor, Frederick Bronstrup.

Description (Brief)

Donated by Skip Barnhart, 1986.

Description (Brief)

Citation: Elizabeth Harris, "Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection," 1996.

Date Made: circa 1840Date Made: ca 1840

Maker: Ramage, Adam

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

See more items in: Work and Industry: Graphic Arts, Communications, Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1986.0890.01Accession Number: 1986.0890Catalog Number: 1986.0890.01

Object Name: Press, Printing

Physical Description: metal (overall material)wood (overall material)Measurements: overall: 38 in x 20 1/2 in x 37 in; 96.52 cm x 52.07 cm x 93.98 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-4900-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_829645

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