Cincinnati Type Foundry Army press

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Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press, manufactured beginning in 1862, view with bed far to the side, handle back
Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press, manufactured beginning in 1862, view with bed center, handle forward, skewed
Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press, manufactured beginning in 1862, view with bed center, handle forward, from above
Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press, manufactured beginning in 1862, view with bed center, handle back, from side
Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press, manufactured beginning in 1862, view with bed center, handle forward, frisket up, skewed
Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press, manufactured beginning in 1862, view with bed center, handle forward, frisket up, skewed
Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press, manufactured beginning in 1862, view with bed center, handle forward, frisket up
Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press, manufactured beginning in 1862, view with bed center, handle forward, skewed
Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press, manufactured beginning in 1862, view with bed center, handle forward, handle back, from side
Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press, manufactured beginning in 1862, view with bed to the side, handle back

Object Details

inventor

Barth, Henry

manufacturer

Cincinnati Type Foundry

Description

This Cincinnati Type Foundry Army Press was invented in 1860 and was sold during the American Civil War and until at least the 1910s; it is marked 'Cin'ti Type Foundry.' The press has a height of 15 7/8 inches a width of 33 inches and length of 27 inches.

The mechanism for the press was invented by Henry Barth, foundry manager from 1861, who later invented an automatic type caster that revolutionized the manufacture of type later in the 19th century. The press is believed to date from about 1875 especially as it is marked as a 6-column size, indicating post-war manufacture.

The Cincinnati Type Foundry (CTF) of Cincinnati, OH, began manufacturing these presses in 1862 for the Union Army. The Foundry ceased production after the war, but because of popular demand resumed production soon afterward. The small, portable presses later became popular in the West and throughout the United States.

The CTF Army Press had adjustments for pressure and feeding the paper and allowed for more precise control. It worked more like the operation of a full-sized press and was offered in several sizes to print different newspaper formats. Other manufacturers of the time made variations on this style of press, as it was not protected by patent, and variations continued to be offered in supply catalogues as late as 1912.

Henry Barth of the Cincinnati Type Foundry designed this cylinder press, known as the Army Press, for use by the armed forces during the Civil War. To make up for lost business early in the war, the Foundry also manufactured bullets for the State of Indiana and Gatling guns used in the New Orleans campaign.

The Army Press was listed as resembling the modern common hand press in having ways, bed, tympan and fisket and a rotating cylinder that, unlike the Adams's Cottage press, moved with the press bed.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of Homer Martin

date made

ca 1862

ca 1860

ID Number

2005.0133.01

accession number

2005.0133

catalog number

2005.0133.01

Object Name

press, printing

Object Type

Letterpress

Physical Description

metal (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 15 7/8 in x 33 in x 27 in; 40.3225 cm x 83.82 cm x 68.58 cm

place made

United States: Ohio, Cincinnati

See more items in

Work and Industry: Graphic Arts

Military

Cultures & Communities

Communications

Work

Industry & Manufacturing

Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection

Civil War Field Printing

Data Source

National Museum of American History

used

Civil War

related event