Albion presses continued to be manufactured until the 1930s, in various sizes, ranging from desktop Quarto size (10″ * 7″) to floor standing Extra Size (42″ * 27″)
From the 1840s onwards Albion presses were manufactured by several other firms both in the UK and abroad.
This press was made in 1868 by J. & R.M. Wood & Co, type-founders and printing-press makers. The press was ordered by Kelly’s Directories in 1867 when their printing works moved from its original site in Old Bowell Court near the Strand, to Nos 1 and 3 Gate Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields. In 1893 the printing office moved to Middle Mill, Kingston, and in 1906 became known as Chapel River Press. In 1932 Chapel River Press moved to Andover. The press accompanied the firm on all these moves and was used for 97 years until it was taken out of commission in 1965.
It was restored to working order in the early 1970s by L.H.Norris and displayed in the London International Press Centre of the International Publishing Corporation, the owner of Kelly’s Directories. In 2020 IPC was taken over by Future PLC, and in the autumn of 2022 the press was one of several items from the IPC archives sold on auction by Future PLC.
Although the press was restored 50 years ago, it is now in poor condition with several broken parts.
The Albion press works by a simple toggle action, unlike the complex lever-mechanism of the Columbian press and the Stanhope press.
Most Albion presses use a spring to lift the top platen, but Cope did also make some presses using a counterweight similar to the Columbian press. Several Albion clones made in continental Europe used a counterweight. Our LeJeune Albion is an example of this design.