I got this press it was probably sometime in the mid 80s. There wasn't much left of the frame it was pretty rickety. I can't remember exactly I think we had been out to this farm to deliver the seed stock for his years seed fields. In the shed we were stacking the seed in he had one of the smaller units I guess that he either used himself or at least kept in safe storage. I admired it quite a bit and complimented him on it. Most of these style presses to the best of my knowledge came in two sizes the larger one like in the header picture and one about 1/2 or 2/3 the size. A lot of different companies made these, I grew up with one similar to it that was used on mom's parents farm but it did not have as nice markings . Well it was some time later Harvest Time that year when the farmer came out and told me he had another one in the barn that was in pretty bad shape and he had decided let it go if I wanted it. As stated before the wood frame was pretty well shot but the rest was in quite decent shape. When he told me the price I accepted without hesitation and did not take a chance on losing out. I had the plant give my dad a call and it was picked up that afternoon.
Once home and when I had time it was dismantled from the wood frame and the casting were taken for sandblasting. A new frame was started somewhat stouter than the original and not according to the original design. Pallet lumber was used for the rear posts and part of rail assemblies, new 2x6 lumber was used for the front posts (press posts) laminated, mortised and bolted together as well as the lower press support. Some units had a cast iron lower support like the top screw but this one doesn't Exterior pieces that were non contact were painted gloss black and most of the lettering that was accessible was painted in gold. I had started a press on my own and had already made the baskets for it so those rings and baskets I kept and gave the rings and junk wood baskets for this one to the friend who I sold the press I had been working on. It was basically a similar frame with wood press supports top and bottom a wrap around plate with an acme screw nut and 2" bolt for pressing, all he needed to do was redo the baskets and find a grinder he eventually got one of those "Happy Valley Ranch" grinders for it.
Once I had the basic press pretty well done it was mounted on a little trailer and it was taken to the local "Farm Shop" and they formed a stainless steel trough to fit inside the wood trough.
A motor was mounted on it with an old hinge and a turnbuckle and a belt driving the flywheel to make things go a little faster and funner. Some scrap maple from a torn down house was use for the hopper.
The grinder starts with the top which is a 3 flited hub and an adjustable presser plate to chew the apples up into "bite size" pieces. After that the pieces go through two cast iron fluted presser wheels that chew the pieces up further and press it some before the pulp is dropped into the basket.
I've used food grade grease on the screw but have since gone to either crisco or lard, while the bearings just open bore slide bearings I use either olive or vegetable oil. The baskets, rings and interior unit will usually see a light coating of oil for storage.
It's a little bit weathered now, it doesn't have the clear pine look anymore. sitting outside for a year when I was in the process of moving and didn't have any place to put it didn't help any but I guess we all grey a little with age. But overall I'd say it's weathered the last 30 years a little better than I have.
