The Reliance Press
c. 1895-1911

The Reliance press is a variation of the Washington press invented in the early nineteenth century by New York printer Samuel Rust. Rust’s invention had two important features that distinguished it from other iron hand presses of the time. The initial patent of 1821 was for the “figure 4” toggle, which was less likely to come out of its socket than previous toggles. The 1829 patent for the press was for the design of a new form of frame, which incorporated hollow, cast-iron columns. The resulting press was significantly lighter than other presses and could also be taken apart which allowed easier shipping of the press, a key component of its success. Many competing companies produced and sold what were virtually direct copies of Rust’s patented printing press, including his biggest competitor, R. Hoe & Co., of New York, and eventually became the most popular iron hand presses.

Paul Schniedewend, of Chicago, manufactured the Reliance presses between 1895 and 1911. New innovations in printing press technology had, by this point, rendered the iron hand press obsolete for commercial printing. The Reliance was designed with a new process in mind: photo-engraving. The Reliance was specifically manufactured as a proofing press that would produce high-quality impressions for engravers. Schniedewend’s 1898 advertisement heralded “a new press of unequalled strength and rigidity for proving half-tone and process cuts”. Reliance presses varied enormously in size, ranging from the Midget (platen size 14.5 x 18.5 inches) and the Baby (platen size 10 x 8 inches) to the New A (975 lb.), New B (1,640 lb.), Lion (3000 lb.), the Mammoth (4,200 lb.) and by 1902, the Mastodon (5,000 lb).

Saxe, Stephen O., American Iron Hand Presses. Oak Knoll Books: Newcastle, Delaware, 1992.
Moran, James. Printing Press: History and Development from the Fifteenth Century to Modern Times. Faber and Faber Limited: London, 1973.