Old shop press - screw ram

[imc188222]

I'm wondering if anyone in here has seen one of these shop presses before and if anyone knows who made it.
I bought it off Craigslist ten or so years ago and it has been in use in our farm shop every since. It replaced a 30 ton import press and has done everything and more that press did. The only thing the "hydraulic jack" type press did better was retracting the ram quickly.
There is no plate or identifying markings on the press that I could find. Any ideas?
Thanks,
-Isaac

 

[Stuart in MN]

It's similar in function to the Weaver press discussed in this thread, but I think it's a different brand. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=395882

 

[imc188222]

Yes, definitely similar to a Weaver. I meant to put that in my first post. I have a friend that has a Weaver in his shop that he inherited from his father. When I originally went to look at this press I thought it was a Weaver from the picture.
In use, I like it better than the Weaver. The hand crank allows more rapid travel of the ram almost like an arbor press. Then when the going gets tough, a bar in one of the spoke holes gives you full power.
I sure would love to see some documentation on it though. The round heads that you see holding the gusset plates on are hot rivets, like the ones that they built old iron bridges with. I imagine everyone already knew that from the picture.

 

[bill300d]

Sorta reminds me of a KR.

 

[2oolhound]

That's a cool press. It should be possible to put some type of electrical powered drive on it. Even if it slipped against pressure but would stay engaged for the lift back up it might make it more efficient.

 

[tombell572]

Love the look of those rivets--a great old-school structure.

Tom B.