The printing press company was originally based in the Soho Foundry, near Greenbank sidings. Later a new building was constructed off Victoria Street. Before Goss took over in 1935, the company was known as Joseph Foster and Sons.Joseph Foster and Sons
The Joseph Foster and Sons factory, housed in the Soho Foundry, began making printing presses in 1887. The Times of London became a famous user of Foster Presses. The Soho Foundry was built by Joseph Clayton in 1835 and originally made steam boilers. Another interesting Preston connection is the origin of the presses they made. The Web Printing Press was invented by Walter Bond, foreman of the Preston Guardian. The Press became known as the Prestonian, a play on words.
In the mid 1950s, new machine shops were built on Victoria Street. The works was close to Greenbank goods sidings.In the 1950s new machine shops were built on Victoria Street, close to the junction with Fylde Road. This was a large and modernist building.The new machine shops represented a considerable investment, and jobs at the factory were highly regarded. In fact the jobs were thought to be on a par with the toolmakers at BAC.The Goss sales drawing office is seen above.
The Harris has a model of one of the Goss presses. These were large and complex machines, as they still are today.