If you’ve spent any time scouring the internet for a picture of platten 20s, you’ve likely realized something pretty quickly: it is a niche search that leads down a very specific rabbit hole of industrial printing history and mechanical engineering. People aren't usually looking for a "platten" in the abstract. They are looking for the heart of a printing press. Specifically, the heavy, flat metal plate that provides the pressure to transfer ink from a form to a sheet of paper.
When we talk about "20s" in this context, we aren't talking about the 1920s—though plenty of these machines were built then. We are talking about size. In the world of letterpress, a "20" usually refers to the dimensions of the chase or the bed, often a 14x20 or a 12x20 inch configuration. It’s a beast of a machine. Seeing a photo of one today feels like looking at a dinosaur that somehow survived the asteroid.
Why the Picture of Platten 20s Looks So Different From Modern Tech
Modern printers are plastic boxes with lasers. Boring. A picture of platten 20s equipment, like the legendary Heidelberg Windmill or the Chandler & Price (C&P) models, shows something entirely different. You see cast iron. You see massive flywheels that could take a finger off if you aren't paying attention. You see a complex dance of rollers and ink disks.
There is a tactile weight to these images. You can almost smell the mineral spirits and the tacky, thick oil-based ink just by looking at the grainy chrome of the lever arms. Honestly, the 20-inch models were the workhorses of the mid-20th-century print shop. While the smaller "6x10" presses were for business cards, the 20s handled the heavy lifting. Posters. Broadside circulars. Serious industrial forms.
If you look closely at a high-resolution photo of a 14x20 platten press, you'll notice the "clamshell" movement. It’s a mechanical marvel. The two flat surfaces—the bed (holding the type) and the platen (holding the paper)—meet with thousands of pounds of pressure. If the timing is off by a fraction of a millimeter, the print is ruined. Or worse, the "smash" happens, where the metal hits metal and everything breaks.
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The Engineering Behind the Image
Why does this matter now? Because of the letterpress revival. Designers and hobbyists are obsessed with "the bite." That’s the deep indentation left in thick cotton paper by a heavy platten. You don't get that from a digital printer. A picture of platten 20s setups today often shows them hooked up to modern motors, but the bones are ancient.
Take the Chandler & Price 14.5 x 22 "Craftsman" model. It’s a monster. It weighs roughly 3,000 pounds. In a photo, you might miss the scale until you see a human standing next to it. The flywheel alone weighs as much as a small motorcycle.
Variations in the Platten Design
- The Side-Lever Press: Often seen in photos of smaller tabletop units, but rare in the 20-inch range because the physical strength required to pull the lever for that much surface area would be insane.
- The Treadle Press: You might see a photo of a press with a foot pedal. This was the "gym membership" of the 1800s.
- The Motor-Driven Automatic: The gold standard for 20s. These have "fingers" (delivery grippers) that swing in, grab the paper, and pull it out. It’s hypnotic to watch in a video, but in a still picture of platten 20s, these grippers look like strange, metallic bird claws.
What to Look for in an Authentic Photo
If you are trying to identify a press from a photo, look at the ink disk at the top. On a 20-inch platten, that disk is huge—often nearly two feet across. It rotates slightly with every stroke. This ensures the ink is distributed evenly so you don't get "ghosting" on your prints.
Another telltale sign of a "20" class press is the number of rollers. Smaller presses have two. The big boys? Three or four. More rollers mean more surface area covered in ink, which you absolutely need for a large 20-inch form. If the photo shows a press with only two skinny rollers and a massive bed, it’s likely an older, less efficient model or a specialized die-cutter.
The Reality of Owning This "Picture"
Let’s be real. Buying a press because you saw a cool picture of platten 20s is a massive undertaking. These aren't desktop peripherals. They require reinforced concrete floors. They require a knowledge of "makeready"—the art of using tiny bits of tissue paper to balance the pressure across the entire 20-inch surface.
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Experts like Briar Press or the operators at the International Printing Museum often warn newbies: don't just look at the photo. Look at the rust. If a photo shows "pitting" on the platten surface, that press is a boat anchor. You want smooth, polished steel.
How to Capture the Best Details
If you're a photographer or a collector documenting these machines, lighting is everything. Cast iron absorbs light. To get a sharp picture of platten 20s hardware, you need side-lighting to catch the texture of the "orange peel" paint and the gleaming oil on the cam gears.
Focus on the following:
- The Throw-off Lever: Usually has a wooden handle. It’s what stops the press from printing even while it's running.
- The Feed Table: Often made of worn oak or maple.
- The Serial Number: Usually stamped on the top of the bed or near the drive shaft. This is the "DNA" of the press.
Actionable Steps for Enthusiasts
If you’ve been staring at a picture of platten 20s and want to move toward actually using or seeing one in person, start with these steps:
Research the Weight First. Before you even think about buying a 14x20 or similar large platten press, check your floor load capacity. You are looking at 2,500 to 4,000 pounds in a very small footprint. Residential floor joists will snap like toothpicks.
Visit a Working Museum. Don't rely on photos. Go to a place like the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum. Seeing a 20-inch press in motion is terrifying and beautiful. You'll understand the "thunk-hiss" sound that a picture simply can't convey.
Check the Platen Flatness. If you are inspecting a press for purchase based on a listing photo, take a machinist’s straightedge with you. A "picture" might look great, but if the platen is warped by even 0.005 inches, you will spend your life in makeready hell.
Join the Community. Sites like Briar Press are the "Reddit" of the letterpress world. Post the picture of platten 20s you found and ask for an ID. The old-timers there can tell you the year, the make, and probably the name of the guy who sold it in 1945 just by looking at the shape of the spokes on the flywheel.
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The world of heavy iron printing is unforgiving but incredibly rewarding. A photo is just the entry point into a hobby that bridges the gap between the industrial revolution and modern graphic design. Just remember: keep your fingers out of the clamshell.