Foster's Printing Press, 1852-1857

THF127433 / Foster's Printing Press, 1852-1857
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Artifact Overview

This printing press turned the commonly accepted image of a press upside down. Instead of pressing paper down onto a bed of inked type, a lever pushed the inked type up to the paper. And while it functioned similarly to the widespread Washington press, the dramatic reversal of the Foster press caused printers to be skeptical of its practicality.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Printing press

Date Made

1852-1857

Creator Notes

Made by James D. Foster & Co. in Cincinnati, Ohio. Patented by Charles Foster.

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Made in America

Object ID

29.1427.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Thomas A. Starr

Material

Cast iron

Color

Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 51 in
Width: 40 in
Length: 69.5 in

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