the arm 5 brings the head 7 into engagement with a complementary pressing surface or buck 8 carrying the article to be pressed the buck 8 is mounted on the frame 2 via a support 9 in the present illustrative case a counterbalance spring 11 attached to the arm 5 through a link 12 offsets the weight of the head 7 and causes it to remain in the up or fully opened position when no external force is applied to the arm 5 a swiveling control rod assembly 31 31a is also attached to the arm 5 and connects to a shock absorber 32 which smooths out the motion of the arm 5 when opening and closing a link 14 pivotally mounted at one end 14a on the shaft 3 extends in spaced relationship below the arm portion 6a an actuating means in the form of a small bore long stroke air actuating cylinder 15 connects to a secondary shaft 16 affixed to the other end 14b of the link 14 the cylinder 15 acts to initially pivot the assembly as will be discussed in more detail below also pivotally mounted on the secondary shaft 16 is a latch 21 whose upper flat surface 21a extends forward of the.