French common press, Genard
date: label: Date made
content: 1786
name: label: maker
content: Genard
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This French-modified, bench-top common press was made by Genard of Paris in 1786. It includes a maker’s brass label, and includes a brass tympan frame that is not original. The press has a height of 27 inches, a width, at cheeks, of 11 inches, and a length of 24 inches (all excluding the lever). Its platen measures 7.75 inches by 5.5 inches: its bed measures 7 inches by 9.5 inches.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The press made its appearance at a time when the boldest of
label: Description (Brief)
content: the French press-makers led the world in trying to break out of
label: Description (Brief)
content: the wooden-press convention. It was built in Paris by Genard (whose first name is unknown), a mechanic working for Philippe-
label: Description (Brief)
content: Denis Pierres. Pierres was printer to the king, and usually is given
label: Description (Brief)
content: credit for the invention of the press. Genard may have stolen the
label: Description (Brief)
content: idea, but he was a good marketer and his presses were exported
label: Description (Brief)
content: to England under the name “Apollo.” This is the only known
label: Description (Brief)
content: surviving Genard press (a full-size Anisson press—a rival
label: Description (Brief)
content: “improved” wooden press—is housed at the Imprimerie Nationale in
label: Description (Brief)
content: Paris).
label: Description (Brief)
content: The press is bench-sized with a relatively massive wooden frame,
label: Description (Brief)
content: an iron screw, and a series of levers and counterweights to lighten
label: Description (Brief)
content: the pressman’s work and give a one-pull impression. To lower
label: Description (Brief)
content: the platen, the long hand lever is pushed down, instead of being
label: Description (Brief)
content: pulled horizontally in the usual way. Thus torsion is eliminated,
label: Description (Brief)
content: along with the need to brace the press in its place. A combination
label: Description (Brief)
content: of coil springs, counterweight and a large leaf spring return the
label: Description (Brief)
content: impression assembly and levers to their starting point.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The press carries an original brass tag recording its presentation
label: Description (Brief)
content: to the French Academy in 1787:
label: Description (Brief)
content: Fait par Genard Serrurier Machiniste Seul Invanteur des Presses a Lévier a un Coup et sans Etansson, et Présenteé à Mrs de Laccadèmie en 1787.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The press was in the collection of André Jammes (France), and
label: Description (Brief)
content: then Colin Franklin (England), from whom it was acquired for
label: Description (Brief)
content: the Museum.
label: Description (Brief)
content: Purchased in 1992
label: Description (Brief)
content: Citation: Philip Gaskell, "A Census of Wooden Presses," in Journal of the Printing Historical Society 6, 1970 (census no. F2*, p. 10); James Moran, Printing Presses, 1973, p.43; Elizabeth Harris, "Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection," 1996.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: France: Île-de-France, Paris
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Graphic Arts
label: See more items in
content: Communications
label: See more items in
content: Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1992.0160.01
label: accession number
content: 1992.0160
label: catalog number
content: 1992.0160.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Press, printing
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: iron (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 25 in x 29 in x 12 in; 63.5 cm x 73.66 cm x 30.48 cm