By: Melissa Gruber
Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation
Mammoth artifact finds a new home in the Collections Conservation Centre
The Goss press in its new home
Last week, a Goss printing press moved into Ingenium’s new Collections Conservation Centre in Ottawa. At 32 metric tons — the approximate equivalent of five African elephants — the press is one of the heaviest pieces in Canada’s national science and technology collection.
Made in 1899 and operated for several decades, the Goss press was more efficient than previous presses, allowing daily newspapers to be printed more quickly and in larger numbers. Considered small for an industrial printing press, the Goss press was used in Montreal, Edmonton, and Medicine Hat.
Until recently, a couple of cranes would have been necessary to move an object this heavy. Fortunately, workers had access to a forklift strong enough to drive the artifact out of its old resting place, at a storage warehouse located in close proximity to the Canada Science and Technology Museum. The press was then lifted onto a flatbed truck and driven — very carefully — down the street. At the new, purpose-built Collections Conservation Centre, the truck was able to drive right in and place the press on the reinforced floor. The whole process took around four hours.
The Collections Conservation Centre is a state-of-the-art facility designed to protect and showcase the Ingenium collection, which spans three national museums — the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
The Goss printing press in Ingenium’s current storage warehouse.
The Hoist forklift is one of the few that can lift the 32 metric ton Goss press.
Workers using a hydraulic jack to reposition the floor skates, in order to align the oversized press with the exit door.
The Goss printing press about to leave Ingenium’s current storage facility.
The Goss printing press exiting Ingenium’s current storage facility.
A 35 metric ton forklift raises the Goss printing press onto a flatbed truck.
A 35 metric ton forklift raises the Goss printing press onto a flatbed truck.
The Goss press arrives at the Collections Conservation Centre.
The Goss press in its new home.
In late May 2019, the Goss printing press moved into Ingenium’s new Collections Conservation Centre in Ottawa. At 32 metric tons — the approximate equivalent of five African elephants — the press is one of the heaviest pieces in Canada’s national science and technology collection.
Transcript
In late May 2019, the Goss printing press moved into Ingenium’s new Collections Conservation Centre in Ottawa. At 32 metric tons — the approximate equivalent of five African elephants — the press is one of the heaviest pieces in Canada’s national science and technology collection.
Melissa Gruber
Melissa Gruber is a Strategic Communications Officer at Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation. She’s worked for national advocacy, funding and programming organisations across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Melissa is driven by her passion for the power of cultural institutions to improve social outcomes but also to allow us to imagine the world as it could be.
