Liberty platen press

The Liberty was invented by Frederick Otto Degener. It was popular in the United States and Europe during the second half of the nineteenth century, but eventually lost out to the Gordon style platen presses. Most of the presses in the US were scrapped, and today only a few remain. According to Printers Guild, the Liberty in the History Park Print Shop appears to be the oldest of the Liberty presses where serial numbers are known. Although it carries an 1874 patent date, it was probably built after 1877 when F. M. Weiler bought out his partner, Frederick Degner, the inventor of the press. It also probably was built before 1881 or so when a factory was added in Berlin. The press is a Liberty model 3 (10 x 15") press, but mechanically rather different. The ink rollers are basically stationary, while the ink disk, bed and form travel back and forth underneath them. After its first half century or so, this particular press was sold to a religious order in the San Jose area, who did not need the speed a commercial shop would have. This probably saved it from the World War II scrap drives. The nuns evidently were content hand-setting type and operating the press with its original foot treadle. Around thirty years ago it came from them to the Print Shop at the then San José Historical Museum. It may have been painted black at some time (Libertys seem to normally be blue) and has had a few minor repairs, but is basically an unrestored 125± year old press still doing what it was built to do. It is used a few times a month, mostly for demonstrations for visitors and History Park keepsake jobs.