Very little is known about the Dickinson & Williamson Company other than they produced printing presses in Cincinnati in the mid-1830s. The 1834 Cincinnati Directory listed Samuel Dickinson as a "printing press manufacturer" located at the corner of New Market & Elm.
This article was included in the March 22, 1833 edition of the Brookville Inquirer (Indiana):
PRINTING PRESS MANUFACTORY, And Printers Warehouse.
DICKINSON & WILLIAMSON, Fifth Street, (be'ween Elm and Plumb streets,) Cincinnati, have commenced an establishment for the manufacture of PRINTING PRESSES, of Medinm, Royal, Super Royal, Imperial and Mammoth sizes, of cast iron.
THE FRANKLIN PRESS,
An improved Press by Mr. Dickinson, (who has been engaged for several years past, in manufacturing Printing Presses,) combines great ease in working, and durability in those parts where the friction is greatest. The pull is probably the most easy that can be obtained, giving an immense pressure. They also make the common Press now so generally used in the West.
D. & W. will shortly produce a machine to be worked in connection with the Press, to perform all the duties heretofore performed by the roller boy, or the pressman with balls. Machines of this description have been in successful operation in the United States for several years, and in this city for several months; producing better work than is usually done with rollers or balls. Messrs. Harpers, of New York, work all their presses in connection with these machines, one pressman thereby performing the work of two, with not more than ten per cent, additional labor, allowing him to work off twelve or fifteen tokens per day, if desirable, and keeping one uniform color throughout.
They also manufacture an improved apparatus for inking types with rollers, by a boy with traversing roller; by which means the ink is equally over all part of the roller which inks the form.
The Proprietors intend keeping the following articles constantly on hand, viz: Moulds for casting rollers; Roller Frames, double and single; Chases wrought and cast Iron, all sizes; Composing Sticks, Cases, etc.
All work done at this establishment will be warranted. Terms liberal, and prices very low.
Several second hand presses for sale.
Franklin - Mackinac State Historic Park