COMMON SEAL PRESS, Kalgoorlie Mechanics Institute

Object of cast-iron, hardwood and lead alloy for the seal. It consists dominantly of a 30cm long lever handle of cast iron with a wooden grip. The handle operates a shaft (holding the top most seal) protruding from the mouth of a lion of cast iron, whose head forms the spring locked lever/ handle pivot point. The fittings are 'screwed' onto a base of hardwood which is routered on the top edges and gold paint lies within. Approximately 5 to 10% of paint is missing. Top and side of base are painted black as well as cast iron, which is gold painted on points of high relief. The screws joining iron with base seem to be a more recent addition, as looking directly beneath the base, one can notice the appearance of the nuts 2.5cm deep holes 14cm apart. (i.e. perhaps these are not the original screws). The seal plate at top, is joined to the vertically moving shaft by a split pin and the plate of metal that the top seal plate is stuck to is brass, so too is the bottom plate.
The top brass plate has small stamped hallmark-type symbols.

Department: 

Collection

History Collection

Collection Item Data