NA Graphics

Composing Room

Essential items found in the Letterpress Composing Room.

We stock, as available, used HiSpeed quoins. The smaller 3", 4 1/2" and 6" quoins are hard to find. We don't list the 4 1/2" quoin but have a number in stock. We can supply new HiSpeed Quoins made by BarPlate as they took over the line from Challenge Machinery in 1996. The HiSpeed type of quoin was first introduced in 1932 and quickly became the standard quoin used in most U.S. letterpress plants. We have new quoin keys only for the HiSpeed quoins. We do not stock Hemple or any of the 2-part wedge type quoins or quoin keys for these. We also have a stock of new Challenge brand HiSpeed quoins that were stored unused in a shop for many years--see the first two items on the "Specials" tab.

We have had to drop the listing for all leads and slugs. The man responsible for casting this much needed letterpress product, Greg Walters, died this past January in his hometown of Piqua, Ohio. Greg was special, his devotion to letterpress was intense, to the point of having a crane lower a large press into his new basement and building his house over it. An effort is underway to preserve all his equipment as a non-profit operation.

"Bunting Magnetic base, Cerface design, Aluminum construction, 2.00" x 4.00""
$454.00
MB204
Bunting Magnetics, located in Kansas, makes an extensive line of magnetic products. Prices are subject to change and all Bunting products will be sold only when the selling price has been confirmed with the purchaser. Their line of cerface magnetic bases for letterpress printing have been made for about 35 years and has long been the standard for box making and fine printing using photopolymer plates. We list stock sizes, other sizes are custom and are considerably more expensive. Two or more bases can be locked together in a chase to make a larger base. One to two week factory delivery on standard bases, longer for custom. Bunting also makes the ceramic magnets that are used in our galley magnets. Two or more bases of the same size ordered at the same time offer some good discounted prices--call for a quote.
Quantity

"Honeycomb Base, Aluminum. 5x8 inches"
$425.00
HO100
Take your presswork beyond the limitations of photopolymer and wood mounted cuts. Honeycomb base made of ground aluminum at .668" for mounting 1/4 inch, .250" copper or magnesium dies for cold embossing or letterpress printing. These are made by Sterling Toggle, Inc., a company with roots that date to the early 20th Century under the former name of PMC. These bases give a solid and accurate means for securing plates. Bases are locked in a chase like regular type or cuts. Photoengravings for use on honeycomb bases can be made by any photoengraver--just let them know you are using the Sterling base and they will cut the proper bevel on all 4 sides of the plate. Sizes other than those listed here are available, as well as honeycomb bases made to replace the chase for just about any press. Used with Sterling Toggle bits and bit key sold separately. Heights of the bases are determined on the thickness of plate being used, so we need to know that when an order is placed.
Quantity

"Honeycomb Base, Aluminum. 6x10 inches"
$630.00
HO200
The 6x10 size should not be used in a press smaller than an 8x12. Bases that fill, or come close to filling a chase on a hand fed press cause numerous problems--no room for gauge pins or grippers, and small items have to be fed to the bottom left of the platen which can cause inking and feeding problems. This applies to photopolymer bases as well, so think twice before buying large bases for small chases.

Base1

See the listings on the Composing Room page for the appropriate Sterling Toggle Hooks and key that are required to use these bases. When plates are ordered (quarter inch thick, or .250")for use on these bases, advise your photoengraver that the plate will be used on a Sterling Honeycomb base and they will saw the appropriate bevel on each side of the plate. Magnesium or copper plates may be used that will provide the best base and sharpest image for letterpress.

Quantity

"Aluminum Base with magnetic surface for steel backed photopolymer plates, 10x12"
$321.00
AM1012
This is the world famous Patmag base, made by veteran printer and type caster Pat Reagh. The sizes that follow this one are all Patmag bases. Pat's experience goes back before most of us were born, and he continues to produce exquisite letterpress work and the Patmag base from his work shop tucked away in the country north of the Bay Area in Northern California. Our prices are Pat's list prices, and he drop ships for us direct from his shop. Pat won't take credit cards, but we do, so buy two or three and help the economy. Remember that one large base that fills up most of the chase can put a serious crimp in your ability to print, so give us a call if in doubt.

PatMag bases can be resurfaced if magnetic covering becomes damaged, worn, or if excessive use of solvent loosens the attaching adhesive. Damaged aluminum can not be repaired. Return base to NA Graphics and Pat will speedily replace the covering and ship direct. Cost to resurface is far less than buying a new base.

Quantity

"Sterling No. 0 Toggle Hook"
$11.30
ST100-100
The following information pertains to all the Sterling Toggle hooks listed on our web site. The low height hooks are special order.

Toggle Hooks

Manufactured in the USA

Sterling Toggle hooks are used in our honeycomb plate mounting system and are the industry's standard for locking and registering embossing and foil stamping dies into position.

Finishing specialists appreciate the ease and convenience of obtaining hairline die registration using toggle hooks. The combined forward and downward travel of the toggle hook locks the die firmly into place. A ten-degree bevel is required along the perimeter of the die.

All components of the Toggle Hook are manufactured and assembled in West Babylon, NY.

Do not be fooled by cheap imitation toggle hooks that are made from castings.

We take great care and pride in our manufacturing process to ensure our customers are getting the highest quality toggle hooks.

Our Toggle Hooks go though special procedures for maximum strength and a long product life.

Toggle hooks are also known as die fixings, die catches, die locking, die attache, die fixture and die befestigungs stueck.

Standard Size - Used with honeycomb chases with a thickness of .668" - .759" (17mm -19.28mm)

Low Height Size - Used with honeycomb chases with a thickness of .540" - .668" (13.71mm -17mm)

Quantity

"Sterling No. 1 Toggle Hook"
$11.30
St100-101
NA Graphics stocks the Standard Height Sterling Toggle Hooks, designed for Honeycomb bases .668" to .759" in thickness. We can special order the Low Height Toggle Hook designed for bases .540" to .668" in thickness. Thickness of base is related to thickness of the plate being used, the standard 1/4" die will be at type high of .918" when using a base at .668". • Redesigned to insure longer life. • State of the art heat treat procedures to eliminate cracking in high stress areas. • Manufactured from bar stock eliminating porosity problems found in castings. • Made in USA. No. 0 Narrow Margin Hook-used when less than 1/8” (3mm) margin is required. No. 1 Standard Register Hook-can be used most of the time. No. 2 Register Hook-has a jaw width slightly larger than the No.1 hook, it's Sterling's second most popular hook. No. 3E Extended Jaw Register Hook-this hook has a jaw length that is in between the No. 2 and No. 4 hooks. No. 4 Extra Extended Hook-used for locking up dies on honeycomb bases that do not use Sterling's standard hole pattern, such as a heated honeycomb base.
Quantity

"HiSpeed Quoins, used, 6 inch"
$27.00
QU406
HiSpeed quoins made by the Challenge Machinery Co. were first introduced in 1932. These quoins quickly became the standard of the printing industry and were used in almost every printing operation in the US. We offer used quoins in several lengths, as supplies are available. We test and clean each quoin before shipping and will replace any quoin found to be defective if returned within 30 days of shipping. Used quoin keys are not available but we sell new ones made by the Bar-Plate Co. who still manufacture the original Challenge line of quoins. Prices are higher for the smaller quoins because they are very scarce and difficult to locate. The 3" quoin in particular is fairly rare these days and we have difficulty locating used ones.

Quantity

"HiSpeed Quoins, used, 12 inch"
$29.00
QU412
HiSpeed quoins made by the Challenge Machinery Co. were first introduced in 1932. These quoins quickly became the standard of the printing industry and were used in almost every printing operation in the US. We offer used quoins in several lengths, as supplies are available. We test and clean each quoin before shipping and will replace any quoin found to be defective if returned within 30 days of shipping. Used quoin keys are not available but we sell new ones made by the Bar-Plate Co. who still manufacture the original Challenge line of quoins. Prices are higher for the smaller quoins because they are very scarce and difficult to locate. The 3" quoin in particular is fairly rare these days and we have difficulty locating used ones.

Currently, we have only a few 10.5" long used quoins and a large supply of 12" long quoins. All other sizes are out of stock in used quoins.
Quantity

"Linotype Metal"
$2.50
LM1
Linotype metal in pig form, with feeder ears for metal feeders such as Margach, each pig weighs between 22 and 25 pounds, depending on mold used. This is remelt metal that has been fluxed and cleaned with added Plus Metal. This will work in any line casting machine including Ludlows. The metal has not been verified for content, but we use it with great success in our model 31 Linotype and Ludlow at NA Graphic's print shop. Priced by the pound and each pig is weighed separately. Up to 2 pigs can be shipped by UPS per package. There is a shipping charge of an extra $5.00 per package for fabrication of a wood box for shipping. Call for options on large quantities--we have several tons available. Current prices (2011) for "new" metal in quantity range from $3.95 to $4.95 per pound.
Quantity

"Hi-Speed Quoin, 3", used"
$30.00
QU404
HiSpeed quoins made by the Challenge Machinery Co. were first introduced in 1932. These quoins quickly became the standard of the printing industry and were used in almost every printing operation in the US. We offer used quoins in several lengths, as supplies are available. We test and clean each quoin before shipping and will replace any quoin found to be defective if returned within 30 days of shipping. Used quoin keys are not available but we sell new ones made by the Bar-Plate Co. who still manufacture the original Challenge line of quoins. Prices are higher for the smaller quoins because they are very scarce and difficult to locate. The 3" quoin in particular is fairly rare these days and we have difficulty locating used ones.

Quantity