Southworth tabletop perforating machine for sale in Texas
Update: this machine has been sold. Thank you for your interest!
In 2016, my family and I drove from Jacksonville, Florida, down to the Tampa area so that I could purchase a Southworth perforating machine. That perforator has served me well ever since.
I recently had the opportunity to purchase another Southworth perforator, and it’s time now to find a new home for my old machine.
Southworth tabletop perforating machine
Details
This Southworth perforator, which was most likely manufactured sometime in the 1910s or 1920s, can perforate a straight line approximately 15 inches long. It is the largest tabletop model of which I’m aware; although Rosback did much later reportedly manufacture a tabletop machine that could perforate a 12-inch line, most antique tabletop perforators can punch a line only 10 inches long.
1923 advertisement for Southworth perforators
The perforator has wood (ash) tables and is complete with metal paper alignment guides or brackets on both front and rear. With the tables, the machine measures approximately 2 feet square, and being comprised primarily of cast iron, it is very heavy.
There is evidence of repairs (i.e., apparent welding) to the lower arms attaching each end of the head to the metal posts that keep it aligned. Whatever caused the break appears to have happened long ago, and certainly long before I ever acquired the machine.
Although the repair was done solidly, it was not done perfectly. The right end of the head rides slightly higher than the left end, and as a result, I have from time to time had issues getting clean perforations if I align the paper I'm perforating toward the right end of the perforator head. This is not a problem that occurs frequently, but I mention it for full transparency.
Although the pins in the machine are in good condition, I’ve confirmed that Rosback perforator pins fit perfectly just in case you ever need to replace them.
Pins in Southworth tabletop perforating machine
Price
I’m asking $500 for this Southworth perforator with local pickup available in the San Antonio, Texas, area. Due to the machine’s size and weight, I regret that I’m unable to offer to ship it as there is simply no way for me to do that economically.
The end table on which the perforator is sitting in the photo at the beginning of this blog post is not included in the purchase price.
If you’re interested, please contact me and I’ll be happy to provide additional photos and answer any questions you might have.
Adanaland issues semipostal stamp to raise Turkey relief funds
I recently received a note from Alan B. of Adanaland fame, and he included a copy of his newest cinderella stamp. The 6d + 2d stamp is printed in green, gray, and red, and it depicts an ambulance.
6d+2d Adanaland Post Ambulance stamp
According to Alan, this is Adanaland’s first semipostal stamp. It was issued as part of an effort to raise relief funds for areas of Turkey affected by the February 2023 earthquake that caused nearly 60,000 deaths in Turkey and Syria.
All Adanaland stamps are printed on a letterpress, and the result is very striking indeed!
Angeles City Local Post issues Community Pantries stamp
On April 14, 2023, Angeles City Local Post issued a new stamp celebrating the second anniversary of the establishment of community pantries in the Philippines. The 15-peso design features a lilac border and an illustration of a cart loaded full of groceries.
Angeles City Local Post Community Pantries stamp
During the COVID-19 pandemic, local citizens in the Philippines created the community pantries or food banks to help neighbors in need. According to Wikipedia, some organizers were questioned by the government under suspicion of sympathizing with communist insurgents, but the community pantries were ultimately permitted to continue.
I’ve mentioned Angeles City Local Post a couple of times previously as being affiliated with the Philippine Stamp Collectors’s Society. It is delightful to see new emissions from an international local post, and I look forward to seeing future stamps from Angeles City Local Post’s operator, James C.
Minnesota-based Como Park Post on March 30 issued a local post stamp commemorating the 170th anniversary of the birth of the famous painter Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890). The 3¢ local post stamp features an imitation of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, which he completed in 1889 only about a year before his death.
Como Park Post 3¢ Vincent Van Gogh stamp
What’s really impressive about this is that Como Park Post operator Tom B. carves by hand the blocks he uses for printing his stamps!
Tom also shared a copy of an official seal printed on the backing liner for the self-adhesive stock on which it was printed instead of on the paper portion of that stock.
Como Park Post official seal (error)
This is without question an error, but I have no idea how common it is compared to the “normal” version of the seal. It does seem extremely unlikely to be found in used condition since a separate adhesive would have to be used to make it adhere to any surface.
Back in February, I shared news of San Diego Local Post’s Medinilla magnifica stamp. SDLP operator Renato L. recently shared blocks of nearly identical stamps from two other PSCS-affilitated local posts: Angeles City Local post and Manila Local Post.
PSCS Angeles City Local Post & PSCS Manila Local Post Medinilla magnifica stamps
Both stamps bear 15 peso denominations.
Angeles Local Post has also issued 1-peso stamps picturing a bus. The stamps come with pink, green, yellow, or blue backgrounds.
Angeles City Local Post bus stamps
No other details about these stamps are immediately available.
