Albion Presses

558 mm x 406 mm (22” x 16”) Albion Press

The first of our Albion Press range is now available for purchase. The current machine available has a top platen size of 558 mm x 406 mm (22” x 16”) and is based on an Ulmer and Sons, circa. 1854.

The new Rochat Albion is based on a historically proven design and constructed from the same types of materials as were traditionally used, but utilising today’s metal refining techniques, creating stronger castings. The staple material has been upgraded at our request, from standard grade iron to a steel and iron mix, creating a vastly stronger casting. The toggle motion is hardened to prolong the life of the machine. The handles are turned out of hard wood, varnished and are riveted and bolted on.

There are currently 2 different options available.

Options	Bed Size	Description	Price
Option One	558 mm x 406 mm (22″ x 16″)	Albion, Tympan, Tympan Inner, Tympan Hinge and Fixings	£ 11,180.00
Option Two	558 mm x 406 mm (22″ x 16″)	Albion Excluding Tympan and all associated fixings	£ 9,530.00
PLUS DELIVERY, INSTALLATION AND VAT

Read Printmaking article below

Read further article’s below

Accessories

We are currently developing the first Rochat Albion Press; our progress to date is noted below. We are hoping to design and build 3 sizes of Albion eventually. We propose starting with a 22 ½” x 16 ½” top platen. Further details of these machines will be posted as they are developed, along with pricing and build times.

If you have any comments regarding the sizes, styles of the new machines etc, please feel free to e-mail us with your suggestions.

Further details relating to the quality of our repairs, restoration and servicing can be found on the Repair, Restoration and Servicing pages. We occasionally have Albions for sale in our works, please refer to the Second Hand Page for the latest machines available.

We would be pleased to offer advice to private artists or institutions who intend on selling their Albion presses as we frequently have enquiries into the purchase of these machines.

Development So Far – 22 ½” x 16 ½”

March 2009

Accurate drawings of the machine are made. Keeping the level ‘scrap’ parts and patterns to a minimum is important and keeps the costings of the development of the machine to a reasonable level. Careful consideration to how the machine will fit together is done at the drawing stage to ensure that the castings, once machined, are correct, retain their strength and just slide neatly into position. Consideration at the drawing stage is also given to how each individual part will be machined.

April 2009

The drawings are copied and sent to our Pattern Maker. The Pattern Maker is commissioned to undertake the works. Patterns started to be made.

June 2009

Test casting of the piston, harden boat, and bronze adjustment screw housing cast arrive in our works.

Tooling purchased and jigs made for machining parts. Machining started. Piston faces and slides machined. Platen holes drilled.

July 2009

More patterns start to be made.

Slight alterations are made to the patterns to ensure that the castings will be aesthetically pleasing and as close to the original design as possible.

September 2009

Some of the small Albion parts are passed from the Pattern Maker to the Foundry for casting.

October 2009

Some of the castings are cast and sent to our works.

November 2009

Piston Slide Adjustment castings arrive.

The castings are machined and polished ready for fitting to the piston and staple.

December 2009 – January 2010

Beds, platens, rails, corner plates, toggle parts and leavers, drum and rounce handle arrive in our works from the foundry.

All the parts are painted, ready for machining.

February – March 2010

The platen faces are machined along with the bright edge at the front of the platen. The platens are then drilled and tapped to suit the piston. The bottom platens are machined. The rails are machined and drilled ready for fitting to the staples and beds. The rail drum shaft holes and the oil holes are drilled. The corner plates are drilled and polished ready for fitting to the platens.

August 2010

The wooden pattern is made for the brass tympan hinge. The pattern is then sent to the foundry for casting. Castings arrive in the factory and are de-burred and machined to suit the bottom platen. The brass is then finally polished. Decretive washers are made as original.

Some of the leaver links are made. They are machined out of solid steel in preparation for fitting to the machine.

September 2010

We felt that it was important to have a similar level of decoration on our feet, as they did originally. An original casting was sent to the pattern maker for him to closely examine. With the addition of our web address and after weeks of carful carving, the pattern is finally ready and the castings of the feet arrive in our works. They are fettled and painted.

Only 2 cast items remain for the completion of the machine. There is currently a lot of interest in the manufacture of the new machine and the final castings (staple and ‘top hat’) are eagerly awaited.

October 2010

The machined cast parts available are assembled in our works to enable Leon to take final measurements for the internal sections of the staple. This area of the machine needs to be accurately measured to ensure there is physically enough room for all the other parts to fit, while making allowances for the toggle and leaver section.