Wade Josiah Liverpool.
Arab printing press.
By Josiah Wade. Liverpool.
The Patent of 1872 for the Arab indicates that the machine had ten novel features beyond the current state of the art including leather roller bearers to secure better inking; special guides for the paper on the platen; and a way of controlling ‘dwell’. This dwell issue was important: simple presses just open and close. Wade’s design allowed the platen to stay open longer (making for easier feeding of paper), and dwell to last longer (for a better impression). This erratic movement was possible even with the constant and uniform speed of a treadle or belt drive. The Patent shows a gear mechanism used to get this motion; but most models included a more simple wheel running within a cam. This sits behind the large cog stamped ‘J Wade Patentee, Halifax’.
The Arab is a ‘clamshell platen’, and works by bringing together both the ‘forme’ of type; and the platen holding the paper. The back platen moves on an axis at the foot of the machine.
Press Timeline
| August 1872 | “The Arab” Patented: reported in Halifax Courier, and the Printers Register. The machine was to be exhibited by Mr Powell of Bouvier Street, London |
| 1874 | Arab production moved fromWell Head Lane, Halifax toHopwood Lane where Wade built ‘Crown Works’. Later to move to Hope Works onArundel Street |
| 1881 | Wade invited by the Patent Museum, London to provide a specimen of the Arab |
| 1903 | Wade buys the Dunkirk Mills Estate, Halifax to match the expanding business |
| 1908 | In reports of Josiah Wade’s death, reference is made to agents for Wade in Liverpool and South Africa, amongst other places |
| 1920s | The machine is charac terised by a solid flywheel, a hand-guard made of a single rising rod, and new impression adjustment |
| 1940s | A new guard (looking like a cage) is fitted, a full-width ink duct, and clutch re-setting system is added |
| 1950s | Model ‘A’ is developed, which is motorised and offers additional guards and ‘inching’. The press remains without a system for feeding paper |
| 1959 | Wade closes in Halifax, having made around 40,000 machines. The firm is bought by Wellsman and Parry of Liverpool |
| Early 1960s |
ISPA News reports that Wellsman and Parry continued to make the machine until the early sixties
Source and more information; http://britishletterpress.co.uk/presses/platen-presses/the-arab/
The above printing press is sometimes in use. Source: Motat museum in Auckland.
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