Antique printing press - ID and help?

My business inherited these Kluge and Heidelberg printing presses, and we need to clear out the building. They are such cool pieces of engineering, but I'm having trouble finding out what they may be worth and don't know where to start in getting these moved out our doors. Does anyone here have a decent knowledge of printing equipment?
Hi all,

 

the only thing i can think of is donating it to a museum.........

 

Or the big museum in the sky, the scrapyard @$1 a ton ..hopefully you won't have to pay more than that to get it hauled away ...Not saying that's a positive thing (scrapping), but just might be the reality ...

 

@springfld.arsenal ...what say you about this heavy metal ???

 

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/kluge-letterpress-10-x-15-platen-ready-to in 2007 this one sold for 3750. No idea what they are bringing now, but I'd think someone would be interested. Depends on how much time you have. If anything, the parts with the brand names on them sell as decor items. Any of the id tags too.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/cast-iron-original-heidelberg-1944962898 (124.00)

That flexible light on the pallet would sell on its own also.

 

It's likely all of these old presses can still work. Advertise across the country to sell them.

 

You guys are so helpful! I've had a couple of people elsewhere mention that light... I never would have known!

 

My grandfather owned a printing company, and as a teenager, I ran a 12x18 Kluge much like the one pictured. My grandpa bought it new in 1942. I'd guess yours is about the same age. Just poking around looking at others for sale, I'd say the Kluge is worth about $1,500. It looks to me like it would still run. The Heidelberg looks to be a 10x15 from the early '60s. If it still runs, it might be worth about $3,500. Just my $.02 worth.

 

In Anacortes WA there's a print shop/museum run by a guy who specializes in short runs hand-set on vintage presses. I bet many cities have something similar, and some diligent advertising should come up with someone who would be interested. Good luck!

 

It certainly has a resale value beyond scrap. (And it would be a shame to scrap a quality machine that can no longer be replicated.) Don't know where you're located but the kind of thing a literacy center that teaches book arts would want to acquire (for instance.)

Debora

 

There is an interesting documentary free on Amazon called "Pressing On - the Letterpress Film" about the people looking for, restoring and using these old presses. Worth checking out and may give some pointers on how to locate interested parties.

 

Also have some local shops (in PA) using these old presses for custom printing.

Below is a dealer that seems to sell them- could be someone to contact. Good Luck! -Joe