OK jobber, Kelsey
date: label: Date made
content: circa 1891
label: date made
content: ca 1891
name: label: maker
content: Kelsey, William
label: maker
content: Kelsey, William
label: maker
content: Kelsey, William
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This platen jobber, with a clamshell mechanism, was made by W. A. Kelsey, about 1891. Its chase measures 9 inches by 13 inches.
label: Description (Brief)
content: William Kelsey made his fame and fortune with small presses for amateurs and children, but for a few years he tried making platen jobbers too, and even a small flatbed cylinder press. His short-lived OK Jobber, introduced in 1887, sold for only $100. The press, criticized as being flimsy and lacking power, was not a great success. But like many lightweight clamshell jobbers of the time, it filled a need and did so inexpensively.
label: Description (Brief)
content: This model was presented in 1891, with a modified frame and a wraparound feed table. The small flywheel (25 inches in diameter) is tied directly to the treadle by a rod. Despite its light frame, the press is heavy in operation.
label: Description (Brief)
content: Purchased in 1985.
label: Description (Brief)
content: Citation: Elizabeth Harris, "Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection," 1996.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Connecticut, Meriden
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Graphic Arts
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content: Communications
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content: Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1985.0559.02
label: accession number
content: 1985.0559
label: catalog number
content: 1985.0559.02
label: catalog number
content: 1985.0559.02
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Press, Printing
label: Object Name
content: printing press
label: Other Terms
content: Press, Printing; Platen Jobber
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 9 in x 13 in; 22.86 cm x 33.02 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 47 in x 35 3/4 in x 33 1/2 in; 119.38 cm x 90.805 cm x 85.09 cm