George Phineas Gordon
Encyclopedia
George Phineas Gordon was an American inventor, printer and businessman who developed the basic design of the most common printing press ever, the Gordon Letterpress.
Born in Salem, New Hampshire
, where his family had lived for more than one hundred years, he was educated there and at Boston
before deciding to become an actor. Failing to achieve a livelihood at this, he moved to New York were he became an apprentice printer. Upon learning the trade, he opened a job printing shop of his own. Around 1835 he began to experiment in press design. His first patent for a job-press was granted in 1851. While this press had many flaws, he began to manufacture it as the "Yankee" job press. Subsequently he introduced the "Turnover" and the "Firefly," which could produce 10,000 printed cards an hour. About 1858 he produced the "Franklin" press, which has ever since been known as the Gordon Jobber. (Gordon claimed that Benjamin Franklin
had revealed the basic design of the press to him in a dream.) It was strong, well built, and easy to operate. The Gordon Press solved the problem of clam-shell presses (which previously had "snapped" and endangered pressmen's fingers) by having the platen
open on cams, so that it was flat and lagged for the pressman as he fed the sheet, before closing parallel to the type bed.
Gordon began manufacturing presses in Rhode Island
but in 1872 established his factory in Rahway, New Jersey
. He secured over fifty patents for presses and accumulated a large fortune.
Salem, New Hampshire
Salem is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 28,776 at the 2010 census. Salem is a marketing and distributing center north of Boston, with a major amusement attraction, Canobie Lake Park, and a large shopping mall, the Mall at Rockingham Park.- History :The...
, where his family had lived for more than one hundred years, he was educated there and at Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
before deciding to become an actor. Failing to achieve a livelihood at this, he moved to New York were he became an apprentice printer. Upon learning the trade, he opened a job printing shop of his own. Around 1835 he began to experiment in press design. His first patent for a job-press was granted in 1851. While this press had many flaws, he began to manufacture it as the "Yankee" job press. Subsequently he introduced the "Turnover" and the "Firefly," which could produce 10,000 printed cards an hour. About 1858 he produced the "Franklin" press, which has ever since been known as the Gordon Jobber. (Gordon claimed that Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
had revealed the basic design of the press to him in a dream.) It was strong, well built, and easy to operate. The Gordon Press solved the problem of clam-shell presses (which previously had "snapped" and endangered pressmen's fingers) by having the platen
Platen
A platen is typically a flat metal plate pressed against a medium to cause an impression in letterpress printing...
open on cams, so that it was flat and lagged for the pressman as he fed the sheet, before closing parallel to the type bed.
Gordon began manufacturing presses in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
but in 1872 established his factory in Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway, New Jersey
Rahway is a city in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, being 15 miles southwest of Manhattan and five miles west of Staten Island...
. He secured over fifty patents for presses and accumulated a large fortune.