It was a portable oil-press described by Heron of Alexandria which continues to be in extensive use in various forms until today.
It consisted of a powerful rectangular frame and a worm gear that could be turned with the help of hand levers inside a special receptor (female screw type) in the upper horizontal beam of the frame. With its rotation, the worm gear pushed a horizontal wooden plank which in turn pressed the olive pulp (which was inside a special holding ring system) so that it discharged the olive oil.