Back in 2012, I was working in an electronics factory that had a bunch of those presses still in use. One of the big ergonomic challenges was to make sure operators weren't on them long enough to get overuse injuries. A cool thing about this design is that most people won't leave fingers under the press when their other arm is working the press, so you don't need a light curtain like you do with a hydraulic or motor activated press.

In 1936, when Atwater Kent closed his company, a list of "surplus" equipment was issued. The entire plant contents were sold. Listed were 200 of the Greenerd #3 Arbor presses! The big presses behind the man were, I believe, Southwark 3250 psi hydraulic presses with steam platens for Bakelite molding (there were 23 of these). The box above may have been a Yarnell Waring dual pressure automatic operating valve, which was advertised as being supplied with the presses. Note the indicator through the window and two notes, probably for the two pressure settings. By the way, the Greenerd web site is interesting (at least to a machine freak like me). Of interest: 20,000 feet of leather drive belting was also sold.

The unlocked box may contain the pressure regulating control for the large press in front of the worker. The black cylinder just below the box may be the regulator itself. The box end is clear so the operator can verify the setting; there are some notes pasted in the window. The lockbox would prevent anyone but the shopmaster from setting the pressure. Hmmmm, I need one of those to keep my kids from playing with the thermostat!

Here at Greenerd we are still making the same arbor press we made 125 years ago (only up to 7 tons though, we switched the heavier tonnage presses to hydraulic). The #3 is still the best seller. The parts that fit that press are made to the same size specs today.

Any questions, please call me 1-800-877-9110 Ext. 248.

Anybody know what the locked box (in this case unlocked) is on top of the press is?

We have a Greenerd tabletop arbor press identical to that sitting on a workbench next to the lathe at work. I never suspected it might be 80 years old...

Of course there is no need to "wrap him up". Chances are he is already boxed!

I'll take one of him. No need to wrap it up.

It's somehow comforting to know that there are businesses still making similar products after all these years:

http://www.greenerd.com/arbor.htm

Anybody recognize the part that they are stamping out here. It looks like there's one of them there on the work surface. Part of a coil or magneto maybe?