If you have any information about the Ajax firm, please contact me. Bob Richardson is seeking information about this firm
The Ajax Engineering Company was a competitor to Adana and took a more ‘engineered’ approach to presses than Adana.
The firm seemed to emphasise their flatbed press, although they did make an ‘Ajax Master’ which had a unique parallel-platen approach. While it was similar to an Adana 8×5, the platen moved on a ‘piston’ rather than a toggle.
Their flatbed press (pictured) took a slightly different approach to Adana—they used a single, large roller (like early Adana machines), and controlled the depth of impression through two nuts at the head of the platen. In literature the firm claimed that their presses had unique features—‘accuratley machined Type-bed and platen’, ‘Twin Paper Gripper Fingers’—and these features put the Ajax in a ‘class of their own’.
Like many other small-press makers, Ajax sold complete kits for the hobbyist including mallet and planer, and black and red inks. They were dwarfed by Adana and went out of business before Adana. Far less is known of Ajax than Adana.