Tire curing press

A press assembly comprising a pair of cooperating press members, a first of said press members being stationary and a second of said press members being vertically movable, a first long stroke low force fluid motor connected to said second press member for moving the same vertically upwardly a predetermined distance between a first position remote from said first press member a second position contiguous thereto, a second short stroke high force fluid motor disposed between said second movable press member and a fixed support for imparting a locking force against said second press member in a direction urging said second press member toward said first press member, said second fluid motor locking force direction also resisting movement of said second press member from said second position toward said first position under the influence of gravity, means defining an opening in said second press member for passing at least a portion of said second fluid motor entirely through said second press member in said first position, means positionable to close said opening in said second position for transferring said locking force from said second fluid motor to said second press member, and said last-mentioned means being positioned between a terminal end of said second fluid motor portion and said second press member in said second position.