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Albion Presses
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| September 2009 |
Some of the small Albion parts are passed from the Pattern
Maker to the Foundry for casting.
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| October 2009 |
Some of the castings are cast and sent to our works.
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| November 2009 |
Piston Slide Adjustment castings arrive.
The castings are machined and polished ready for fitting
to the piston and staple.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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