Restoration of the Little Giant flatbed cylinder press --- issues and fixes

This page documents in pictures some of the unclear issues and parts of the 1943 flatbed cylinder press. The press was acquired in March 2010 and I moved it into my shop with the help of Don Hildred on April 12. It still had a form installed in the bed --- a receipt form for an early owner of the press: Ed Johnson, "Photo Engraver", 7 Wahsatch Ave. Colorado Springs. The two brothers I bought the press from had acquired it from Ed in 1999, then in his 90s. It's very possible Ed acquired this press new in the 1940s, as he had run his shop in downtown Colorado Springs for over 50 years. The brothers had seen the press run when they bought it.

There are some obvious issues that probably didn't prevent the press from being used as needed.

1. First, the press brake mechanism is broken and the brake handle is missing. The brake operates with a leather band around the flywheel axle, which can still be seen but is broken:

2. The brake handle, which is missing, might have been fixed to the shaft above the flywheel, but I'm uncertain how the handle operated the leather strap:

The larger shaft, to the left of the flywheel and above the motor, was used to attached the flyweel pulley guard, which is also a part that is missing from my press.

3. On a minor issue, there is a square hole where the electrical connection for the motor can be seen. I'm unsure if this was supposed to house a fuse box:

The electrical connection may have been modified. There are two wires, rated at 600 volts / 30 amps. The plaques on both the blower motor and the press motor give two power options: 600 volts/30 amps and 250 volts/10 amps. It is indicated that they are "three pole" motors. I thought the three pole motors could be modified for 110 volt operation, but the two options on the plaque don't include a 110 volt rating. I can't figure this one out.

4. The paper delivery tapes are partially missing. They seem to have been paired in twos. Not sure what the best way is to arrange the tape, or what the best material is to use when I make new ones. Also, not sure what the role of the two wooden rollers are (on right in the picture below). The width of the tape is slightly too large to fit into the rollers. I'd suspect they might suppose to guide the tape, but there are only two:

5. There are three rollers near the inking unit. Two have attaching posts that are apparently intended to also hold narrow metal rider rollers to even out the ink on the roller. However, as can be seen, only the front roller (on the right) has the attending metal roller. I'm not absolutely clear if the middle roller is also suppose to have a narrow metal riding roller:

6. Not sure what these are for:

7. The following device was disabled. It seems to be related to a paper misfeed mechanism. I can't figure out if it is suppose to be electrically triggered somehow:

8. This air hose seems unnecessarily long. I want to replace it and assume that making it shorter wuill not be an issue:

These are the various issues that I need to tackle before I order new rollers and get printing. Any help or insight is appreciated: email = John@Alignment2012.com