Parts Book No. 2 Kelly Automatic Press

Elizabeth, New Jersey: American Type Founders, [no date stated]. Wraps. Fair. 68 pages. Oblong 8 1/2 x 11 inches. Publisher's original orange printed paper covers with stapled spine covered with black cloth. Front cover coming detached. A seriously worn and well used copy, soiled, stained, but complete. A note on the front panel indicates: "Note - many of Parts are interchangeable on #1 Kelly Press - be sure to specify parts when ordering for #1 Kelly Press and Give Serial Number". Also stamped "American Type Founders Sales Corporation" with address in Cincinnati Ohio. Wraps. Possibly printed in 1940 with "3M 10 40 Printed in USA" code on rear wrapper. Scarce, with only a few examples in OCLC. We buy these lists and offer them for sale so that those trying to maintain these old pieces of equipment have a better chance of success.

"The Kelly, named after it's designer, William Kelly, is claimed to be the first flatbed cylinder machine designed with an integrated sheet feeder. Kelly, born in Kansas in 1869, was a practical mechanic and a salesman for American Type Founders. In 1911, he conceived the idea of a small two-revolution automatic cylinder machine for fast, quality, jobbing work. His first effort was (curiously) named the Model B, a three inker, double demy size. The overwhelming success of the B model led to demands for a larger machine, designated the Kelly #2, manufactured in 1921. Then, in 1925 the Series A was introduced, known as the 'Baby' Kelly. Sales soared, 1927 was the company's greatest year! Two years later the Kelly #1 was introduced. However, the great depression of the 1930's caused the company great financial difficulties, forcing them to move into the Elizabeth, N.J. plant. The following year William Kelly retired. But he continued to suggest improvements on his machinery until his death in 1949. By this time, more than 11,000 presses carrying his name had been sold.
In 1954, A.T.F. ceased production in the U.S., but the English firm of Vickers continued their manufacture for a further 5 years until they too ceased production.

Sources: British Printer, 1937. Courtesy Arthur Johnson
._______Schutz, Alois and Neubert, Wilhelm. Die Druckmaschinen des Grafischen Gewerbes, ---_______-Wilhelm Knapp, 1951
_______-Williams, Fred. The Rise & Fall of the Kelly Press. Amalgamated Printers' Association, _______-1985" (from Australian Letter Press printing online page).