Broken impression lever on Kelsey 6x10

I’m a newbie as well, so this answer may miss the mark a bit. However if I’m not mistaken, I believe that you may have luck with T&T restoration. Their info can be found here on Briarpress. Good luck!

Depending on where you bought it from, I’d look at their return policy- they obviously did not properly crate the press for shipping, so I’d try to return it. Did you have shipping insurance? If you’re not able to return it, someone may have spare parts- I would look for a replacement part before having this part repaired, as that handle takes a lot of force- and may break again. But T&T is your best bet for repairs if that’s your only option!

If there’s a return policy, I would definitely talk to the seller about either a return or at least a partial refund. This is their fault. The damage is reparable, but not necessarily an inexpensive repair. I’ve helped fix a Kelsey 5 x 8 that was broken the exact same way. We not only re-welded the impression arm, but also brazed on reinforcement plates on either side, then re-drilled the pivot holes. You can see a photo of the repair here: http://www.briarpress.org/35985
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Michael Hurley
Titivilus Press
Memphis, TN

If you look at the third picture you posted of the handle look at the break area. Look and the break location, it seems one spot is a clean break. The others look dirty as if it was already broken. Good luck

Thanks for your insights. The seller has indicated that he can only pay for a repair of up to $150. Does that seem reasonable?

peminist,

Please contact us:

T and T Press Restoration at:

[email protected]

Folks,
Here’s the update: I am now the proud owner of this broken Kelsey 6 x 10 as eBay refunded me my money and the seller can’t pay to ship it back. Do you think it’s worth it to repair or that someone could use it for parts? Thanks!

What Model is it?

Personally, I would repair it, but I hate to see these machines die and I have local access to excellent metalworkers whom I know well and trust. Having your press welded and reinforced in a similar fashion to the one I posted before would make it as good or better than new.

I personally own a Kelsey 6x8 that had one roller arm snapped off in shipping. I had it welded back on for about $150.00 last October. The weld is pretty ugly because it’s in a very hard-to-grind spot but it’s solid and perfectly useable. The break was in the middle of the gooseneck mounting bracket on the right roller arm. You can see a bit of weld discoloration in this photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mephit/31006193983/in/album-72157628447216...

I’ve put something like a thousand impressions on this press since it was repaired and it has worked fine. Granted, it’s not as high-wear a spot as your break but it’s still got to withstand constant motion and spring pressure. It’s not flexed or budged a hair.

If I were you, I’d talk to T&T Restoration or someone similar about repairing it. If it’s more expensive than you’re willing to take on, sell it as a complete machine to someone who can get it fixed. Since you got your money back, you won’t have lost anything no matter how cheaply you sell it on.
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Michael Hurley
Titivilus Press
Memphis, TN

@Nicholas, I’m not sure the Kelsey model number. It’s a 6 x 10 Excelsior, cast-iron.

@mephits: I feel the same way. I’m weirdly bonded to this broken machine, even as I’m waiting for my Adana to arrive from the UK. Will contact T&T and the local machinists to see what advice they can give me.

Would you be willing to sell your broken press? I have a press that need the other parts that your press has. Or I can sell you the press that I have that needs a bed and chase.
Chuck

I too might be interested in the handle connectors, my Model E has a broken one.

I’m investigating locally (Oakland, CA) how much it may cost to repair my press to functionality. Will get back to you after that.

@clpx2 and @Nicolas Jenkins: I am willing to sell my broken Kelsey 6 x 10. Contact me if you’re interested. I’m in the San Francisco Bay Area…

I hope you get T&T to fix it.

Its too easy to fix that thing, so parting it out would be a crime.

A lot of presses on EBAY are sold “no shipping available”
because they are afraid of this.

Its so sad to part out presses to keep them going.
Im REALLY starting to think about starting a business making replacement parts to keep these things going.

BTW, Im near Oakland too.

Hi texxgadget, let me know if you do start a letterpress repair business near Oakland! I bought an Adana 8x5 and am parting with my broken Kelsey to someone from this list. Hoping to upgrade to a C&P Pilot down the road…

What part of contact T&T restoration do you not understand?????? Several folks here have tried to steer you in that direction. They do EXCELLENT work and are EXPERTS at this sort of thing. Trying to find someone local or “just starting a repair business are most likely NOT going to do a sufficient repair that won’t soon break again on you.

YES, the press is well worth paying a decent price to get PROPERLY repaired. This is better than a 5” x 8” Kelsey which already sell for outlandish amounts of money.

Maybe you have contacted T&T and didn’t like the repair price or whatever? But in my opinion this is THE place to get your press back in working order.

Rick (a VERY satisfied T&T customer)