I bought this Challenge rolling pin type galley press at auction many years ago for $60 Canadian. I’m in the middle of home renovations and it was in the road, so I had to disassembled it to stuff it into my car. Here it sits in pieces next to my nipping press and a box of letterpress odds and ends in the basement.

challenge Galley rolling pin letterpress

When I took the legs off the press I noticed that at one time someone had spray painted the main box a flat black. Underneath the black paint looks like a faux woodgrain finish; not sure if this is how the press came originally. On the front drop down door around the name plate you can see the faux finish where the black paint has worn off.

Toronto Type Foundry Co. Limited Tononto, Ont.

The other thing I had noticed when I had the legs off is one end of the box had split where the bed screws in. Someone had attempted to repair this by bolting a board to the side, but the screws still had nothing to bite into so the bed wasn’t attached to the box at the left end.

Damage to the end of the Box.

Clamping my press

Repairing my Press

Best thing I could think to do is apply a bit of wood glue and clamp the end pieces together. I let it dry overnight and the bed appears to be more securely fastened now. I’ll still have to be careful when I move it. Not sure if I’ll keep the press in this section of the basement or move it into the attic. Either way I should be able to mount some lino type high and pull a print now.

Challenge Galley Press Back Together and Sitting in the Basement.

I did a bit of quick searching on the internet and found out that the Toronto Type Foundry went out of business in 1967. I couldn’t find out anything about this particular type of press though. It may have been made by the Challenge Machine Company but I’m still looking for more information. If anyone has any information please send me an email.

I just noticed on flickr that someone else has a press just like mine.