Playing Card Press Examples

This is an example of a modern card press. Two pieces of steel (barely large enough), two bolts (wingnuts included free), and four rubber stick-on feet.

Retail cost is generally $40-50, with a lower Internet cost between $30-40 (before shipping is added). State and local taxes can also drive the cost higher.

This model is also made in black ... I suspect to help further hide its lack of aesthetic appearance or appeal. (grin) Definitely something to hide in a dresser drawer and unfortunately forget about using from time-to-time.

Another problem to mention is ... unless the wingnuts are turned PERFECTLY together, the pressure exerted will lean to one side, or the other. (ouch!)

Insert warped cards in ... take leaning cards out. (doh!)

Traditionally, an old-fashioned playing card press looked more like a miniature wood "Apple Cider Press", or the famous 15th century "Guttenberg's Printing Press", best known for its ability to type-produce written literature for the masses, like the Bible.

This next example, is made from solid oak, and sold at auction for $450.

As you can see from the picture, the pressure exerted on the cards over 100 years ago, was typically applied evenly from directly above, and not the sides of a card deck as shown in the previous example.

This all wood design is beautifully hand crafted and stained,  helping to make it a welcome addition into someone's home.

Although cards have been around for millennia, they were considered for centuries to be a luxury item that only wealthy and influential people owned. As such, only the very rich owned a card press as well, which is why they are more of a rare find indeed.

Because playing cards were considered more valuable in the past, preserving them by using a card press was of much greater importance back then. How times have changed!

 

Here is another good example, this one is made of walnut however, and is English in design from the 19th century.

This model must have really been intended for public display, at a whopping 7 1/2 inches tall and an exceptionally wide base, which the cards themselves do not even need to use during compression.

Apparently, in the past, it was not considered ostentatious to display such signs of high social stature and substance. Personally, I like the shorter and stockier oak design example much better.

As you can also see from this older design, the pressure comes from above, and not the sides.

Although attractive in design and purpose, I'm sure the average person would not want this toaster-sized device, cluttering up their home unnecessarily.

Although still made of wood, even at the beginning of mankind's industrial age, metal was generally in high demand in the wars between nations, and therefore seldom used in the production of these types of devices.

Now, with dollar stores around every other corner, maintaining and preserving someone's inexpensive deck of playing cards, is a seldom thought of idea.

To my surprise, most people I talk to, have never heard of a playing card press, let alone ever seen one. Hopefully, RJTaylor Enterprises can change all that!

Welcome to the 21st Century ...

Our Collector's Card Press combines both old and new technologies, to produce the ultimate blend of functionality and attractive design.

Its all metal, durable construction, easily creates an impressive 2800-lbs of pressure with a few simple turns.

Unlike most, this innovative design also accommodates larger cards, up to a standard Tarot size deck.

For the first time in over a century, this Austrian design has been rescued from oblivion within a private collection in Germany, and modified to improve and better reflect our changing times.

This is the type of one-of-a-kind item, that eventually becomes a treasured family heirloom. Possibly, even the best that will be produced in our own lifetime.

For the magician or card player who seem to have it all, our new Collector's Card Press may be just the surprise gift idea that you have been searching a long time to find.

Because we tend to offer only the best-of-the-best to our customers, our prices may generally seem high to most people at first. Now that you've seen the typical $40-50 card presses that are commonly available, you can better understand why quality, versus low-cost, is our business motto!