Update: The antique shop down the street has a bunch of old book presses for sale

Spencer Anderson · 2026-03-04T22:51:08.72316+00:00

I was walking past the antique shop on Maple Avenue yesterday. They have several vintage book presses that look in good condition, and the owner said they're from a closed bindery. Has anyone here used old presses like these, and are they worth restoring?

max_brown6mo ago

Got a 1930s press... some sanding and oil did wonders.

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barbarab566mo ago

Those old presses are total boat anchors. They take up a huge amount of space and the rust is usually worse than it looks. Getting parts is a nightmare, and you'll spend more on fixing it than buying a modern one. They look cool but are they actually practical for real work? Seems like a lot of hassle for a decoration.

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brianm665mo ago

But they're built to last forever.

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oliverrobinson6mo ago

Check if the press plates are still flat (unlike most decor pieces) since @max_brown's approach only works if the core mechanics are sound. Otherwise you're just buying a very heavy sculpture.

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