Press

Not I, But i do know one thing about it.

I love it !

Yep! it is a printing press. A Platen Printing Press.

It looks like someone was going to remove it. there is supposed to be a large (perhaps 6 foot) in diameter flywheel next to the large gear on the side. you place ink in the thing on the top. It's not in it's original location. The press operator stands on the side closest to the wall, and there isn't enough room.

Yeah, looks like it might be sitting on a shipping pallet, too

That thing looks like it might just jump out and eat you if you get too close! Kind of reminds me of Stephen King's "The Mangler's" little brother.

Often, the administration would have the patients print out hospital letterhead and medical journals, so the asylum could make profit from free labour. Sometimes, the patients were allowed to utilise the presses for their own personal newsletters that they would distribute to their companions. Often this turned out to be insane paranoic ramblings, but one or two "submissions" would contain sane, articulate, and pained expressions about the life others consider insane. The newsletters found were usually confiscated and filed for analysis. Thus, any patients who wanted to submit anything used pseudonyms; The Blonde, Purple Condition, and 57-11.
Just an interesting fact or two I thought you might enjoy.

I work in a print shop in Bryan TX, running a 25 year-old Heidleburg Offset Press. I'd love to get my hands on it and nurse it back to health 8^) A beautiful old antique like this would make a sweet addition to our collection of ancient presses.

I'm sorry, you're all wrong. It's an old fasioned Play Doh machine.

LMAO Danny

I was thinking the exact same thing.

I miss my play-doh =*(

A good find, I see it's got a couple of fans!

Wow! This photograph is insanely cinematic! It looks like a still from an old film noir! My photography professor would probably pee himself with happiness if he saw this! lol