The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-25
OLD PRINT NC PRESS
Discovered at Hardesty,
Beaver County, 0. 7.
IT BEARS DATE OF 1890
Oklahoma Historical Soc iety
Secures 1t.

Probably what Is one OF the Oldest
printing presses in the world was located
in this part of the country by VIII Boil
ton of the Woodward News. The find
Oklahoma Historical societys collection
Mr.. Bolton, who was at the Carey
hotel last evening, sad: while 1 was
driving last week through Beaver county,
Oklahoma territory, on business, L stop
ped over at Hardesty to see my old friend
Dick Quinn of the Hardesty Herald
While there I found that he had in his
possession a very old German printing
press. The press was patented in 1870 at
Philadelphia, the patent number being
206, showing it to be one Of the first, if
not the first, printing presses patented
in the United States. Before leaving l
made arrangements with Mr.. Quinn to
have it sent to Norman where 1t will be
placed in the Oklahoma Historical asso-
citation rooms which Is in control of the
Oklahoma press"
The old press resembles a cider mill.
The impression is made by crew which
presses down an iron form, causing the
paper to be printed. The press consists
of a substantial four-inch oak frame
work fitted out with blocks below which
holds the forms. The feed is like that
of the old Washington press. 1t would
be hard to conjecture what an interest
ing history must be that Of this old relic.
What scenes of history 1t must have
viewed and what tales it must have re-
~Ir
the probable course Of the old press, how,
starting at Philadelphia in 1890, it has
followed step by step the frontier.
through state by state, and at last
reached Hardesty, Beaver county, Okla
homa- Fourteen years ago was founded
the Hardesty Herald, one of the bright
est papers Of Oklahoma There in that
place the old press was brought into use.
The editor was an old German, but two
years later ne sold out to r. NJ. Quinn,
who has brought the paper up TO its
present standard In those other days,
when the country was new and undevel-
oped and Hardesty was seeing the be-
ginning of a new era, the old press
filled all requirements. But Oklahoma
progressed on to its present stage. The
circulation Of the paper increased and a
new press was needed. So regardless of
its past history and it's age the old press
was thrown out and has ever since been
exposed to the mercies of the Oklahoma
suns and rains, unappreciated and I'M
cared for. But at last it has found a
protector in the Oklahoma Historical
association and will hereafter occupy a
prominent place in that society's mu-
scum. The value Of this old relic can
hardly be overestimated. 1t is the old
est press west Of the Mississippi and is
undoubtedly the oldest press In the
United States The old press, If it could
tell its story, would give forth many in
teresting things of a time, long since
passed away. 1t would give the history
Of the progress of a civilization not only
in the southwestern country but of the
east as well. It would be interesting
to know who owned the old press, and
what papers 1t has printed to be sent
out over the land.
The old press would have the story Of !
the early times IN the Oklahoma country, |
the times which are now memories in |
the prosperity which is over che land.
The people OF Oklahoma are fortunate |
in having such a relic. New countries |
rarely have such things. It IS the old /
states that have the historical things, |
but in this case Oklahoma comes to the |
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