Welcome to Howard Iron Works - Printing Museum and Antique Printing Machinery Restoration

Howard Iron Works - Printing and Bookbinding Equipment Restoration and Printing Museum

At any given time, our Restoration Team works on several projects simultaneously. For historical and archival purposes, our HIW photographer diligently takes pictures during the restoration and documents the various processes each machine is being put through. We have compiled the photos in a photo gallery for each machine. We hope you enjoy them.

Click Gallery Index to view other Photo Galleries.

We offer our restoration services to others, and will also complete machines that can be either purchased or leased for use or as beautiful displays

For inquiries about our restoration services, please contact: info@howardironworks.org

George Phineas Gordon, an American, is the acknowledged inventor of the world’s most successful platen press. From Gordon’s early attempts to improve on Stephen Ruggles design, he was able to design a machine that caught fire around the civilized world. Copies of Gordon’s platen were made all over America and in Britain. The Cropper Minerva and the Wade Arab both descend from Gordon’s design of his New Style platen in 1872.

Our machine, circa 1872, although the new style, incorporates some unusual features including a counterweight at the rear of the machine as well as a spring absorber for the platen. Both these features were dropped shortly after.

Featured here is the restoration of the 1872 G.P. Gordon Platen Press.

Printing Museum and Restoration	800 Westgate Road Oakville, ON L6L 5N2 Tel. (905) 821-0000 Email: info@howardironworks.org Website: www.howardironworks.org	- The Collection - Restoration - HIW Museum - Lease/Sales Program	- Antique Books & Periodicals - About HIW - Volunteering Opportunities - Museum Shop