Kelsey serial numbers and dates
Following the informative discussion on cleaning a press at http://www.briarpress.org/5802, I received an inquiry about the Kelsey serial numbers that subscriber ‘forme’ posted. There has always been much confusion about Kelsey model numbers and how or if they relate in any way to the date of manufacture. As I mentioned in a previous post, although presses were marked as Model, P, Model U etc. the catalogs make no reference to these letters. Many catalogs refer to “Printing Outfit B” or “Printing Outfit E,” but this appears to have had no bearing on the model number of the press or the date of manufacture.
The numbers that forme posted, do however tell us about the date his presses were made. For example, the first number posted, C54C, provides the following information: C is the size of the press, 6 x 10 inches. 54 is the year, 1954, and the second C is the month the press was made; C being the third letter of the alphabet relates to March as the third month of the year, so that particular 6x10 press was made in March 1954. Therefore, the second number, A83D, indicates that the press is a 3 x 5 inch press made in April 1983.
Serial numbers were used mainly in the later Kelsey presses. If your press has a serial number, it can be found at the top of the chase bed. New to letterpress? To locate the press bed, click on our illustrated letterpress glossary that resides on the old site.
I just brought home my first Kelsey, a 3x5. (A little buddy for my C&P 8x12 OS!) The number on my chase bed is 7AOH - any thoughts?
Steve
Where was that code located? We always put the stamp on the chase bed right under the chase latch notch. Our numbering system was just as Elizabeth stated. I certainly do not recognize the code that you provided. If that number showed up in a different area of the chase bed, possibly it was a casting pattern number.
The code is located directly below the latch notch. Here is a picture…
kelsey 034a.jpg
Well, I don’t recognize that numbering scheme. Could you post a picture of the complete press? What I am interested in are the pivot pins that hold the press together, and how the pins were secured. We made some changes over the final years and we can sometimes date the press by looking at those.
Here’s a few pictures (I couldn’t resist the first one!) Let me know if you need any close-ups. Thanks for your help
Steve
kelsey 032a.jpg
kelsey 013a.jpg
kelsey 008a.jpg
I don’t think a press should be sitting on a piece of glass, I defer to others about the pooch.
Hey Paul,
You sure that’s a pooch?
Dan
Pocket pooch.
that’s a 9x13 press, so that dog is the size of a small wolf, be careful. dick g.
That’s Vinnie (AKA Porkchop) the shop mascot and no, I don’t operate the press on the glass!
Looks to me like they may have transposed the A and the 7, which would make it A70H, or using the numbering scheme mentioned above, a 3x5 manufactured in August of 1970.
John
I think Three Quoins may be on to something. One of the people who was assembling the presses when I got there in 1972, occasionally would sneak out the back door, and his spelling sometimes would become worse as the day went on.
What I was looking for was the method by which the pins were held in place. On older units, the pins were just peaned over. Later the switch was made to the star clips that can be seen in the picture. Around 1974 we replaced the star clips with “C” clips.
Pete
Thanks for the help Pete and John, I’ll go with August 1970 - not a big issue, I was just curious about the manufacture date. By the way, does anyone know where I can pick up a chase or 2 for it? They seem to be scarce right now.
Thanks!
Steve
Check with Letterpress Things in Chicopee, MA, if they don’t have it I would try Excelsior Press in New Jersey. Good Luck Dick G.
Thanks Dick - John Barrett is on the lookout for one for me but he told me that they are in short supply right now. I’ll be stopping in to see him on Saturday, hopefully he found one for me, if not I’ll try Excelsior. Thanks again
Steve
Steve, if John Barrett doesn’t have one for you swing by my shop and i will loan one to you till you can find one, that is a 3x5 kelsey isn’t it . i am about 1 hour east of John’s place. Dick G.
Thanks so much for the offer Dick - I’m not in a big rush for one, I can get by with the one that I have until I can find a replacement. That was a kind offer and I really appreciate it. I’ve been amazed at all of the nice people and the help that I’ve gotten since I brought my press home last August. Thanks to All!