Kelsey 5 x 8 - MOD?
I recently purchased a Kelsey 5 x 8 and am extremely happy with the condition, etc. I have two questions which may have been better suited for the Newbie section, but one might be a mod and it is the most intriguing to me.
Below are some photos:
First, the mod? (pic 1) On the gripper bar either side of the center line are two large rollers. Is this for some unknown purpose or do you think that the previous owner just found a way to store the loose trucks so they might not get lost? I have four well rusted cores that came with the press and four star shaped washer thingies (pic 2) but no trucks. My suspicion is that these large rollers are the trucks.
Second, the press bears the patent date of March 20, 1928. It is a Model N, there is a “15” stamped into the platen back. Does that signify anything of any import in operation or care?
Third, (pic 2 again) The press had four star shaped washers and two weird shaped metal pieces (pic 3), almost like an overlay for the truck rails. I can’t seem to find any mention of them anywhere. Are they just freebee undocumented features? Do you think they serve a purpose?
The press came with several chases, one setup with a perforating cutter apparently for commercial checks. Pretty cool, but I don’t think there are any MICR inks available. Just thought it was interesting. (pic 4)
Thanx for your time in looking at this.
Surfbunny
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looks like the round things on the gripper bar are your trucks, try them on the roller shaft, you should have 4 of these. the wierd shaped metal things lock up on each side of the chase, they help the rollers to turn and keep them even while going over your type, the star shaped things i never saw before. the chase with the perf rule in it does not need ink to work, in fact if you use rollers on that chase the perf will cut them, not good idea. good luck dick g. ps. look over the press carefully beefore using it, the other trucks for the rollers might be hidden on something else.
Surfbunny:
The two wierd-shaped folded steel pieces are roller supports which can be locked in each side of the chase to support the rollers at the proper height and to keep the rollers turning properly as the go over the type form.
It is difficult to speculate on why the trucks for the rollers might have been threaded on the gripper bar (if indeed those are the roller trucks, which they seem to be).
The star-shaped items might have been supports used at the ends of the rollers when they were shipped from the roller casting company if they shipped them in a cardboard tube. They really don’t have any use when printing.
It sounds like you will need at least two more roller trucks and two newly cast composition or rubber rollers to get you in busienss with this press.