“The Bronstrup Lithographic Hand Press” in Printers’ Circular (June 1876).

 

Before leading Philadelphia lithographer Peter S. Duval (1804/5-1886) announced his “lithographic printing by steam” in 1849, only handpresses were in operation at the city’s establishments. The inking and dampening required for the stone had stymied efforts to completely mechanize the printing process, and even in 1849, only the mechanism (usually cog wheels) to draw the stone through the press was steam powered. It took nearly fifteen years for a fully mechanized steam press (one that dampened and inked the stone automatically and applied pressure by means of a cylinder) to enter the U.S. market. Despite the greater efficiency that steam-powered presses provided, handpresses, particularly the Bronstrup, were still used in Philadelphia shops for proof printing and crayon works.

 

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