Kelsey Part Needed

It's for a Kelsey 3x5 and connects the roller arm assembly to the ratchet pawl assembly.

Lunchtime Reading: more surprising printing notes

An interesting surprise from 1867. In The Riverside Magazine For Young People (Vol I, No V: May, 1867, pg 210 & 211): an article about printing in China. You'll have to click to biggify, but it's kind of fun to read.

Rust or TV? TV or Rust?

Today was my day in the Print Shop of the Museum (History Park, San Jose, California). But it was a low attendance day, so I did not ink up the press for printing. I proofed a cut or two trying to decide on my Christmas Card design, and entertained visitors who came in to see the Shop. Always a nice day.

Upon going to my Sunnyvale shop, I decided to work on my new-to-me press after dinner. I scraped rust and dried ink from the ink disk, scrubbed with solvent and steel wool, and whizzed around with a brass brush on the Dremel. The press, an 8x12 Golding Official (tabletop), is now much cleaner. I dug out the oil holes and added oil. Now the press is much easier to use than a comparable Pilot. It is also heavier, with greater impression strength, so I look forward to using it soon.

Rust removal: unless I can soak parts in Evap-O-Rust (a very good rust cleaner), I use steel wool and mineral spirits, or even WD-40. For the ink disk, my ink knife was good, since I could easily scrape the rust from the disk. I followed up with steel wool and WD-40. For the platen and paper bails, I used a Dremel with a soft brass brush. That worked admirably.

I found the oil holes, which were clogged with years of crud. Using a small drill bit, I turned it clockwise to lift out the debri and clear the holes. Then I could put a few drops of oil in each one. The press now opens and closes almost effortlessly. I am extremely happy with this press and can hardly wait to print on it. The trouble is, I have not yet ordered new rollers, so next month is the earliest I could get ink on this new wonder. Stay tuned!

After steel wooling, scraping, solventing, and dremeling, I am going to call it a night. It was Rust... or broadcast TV! I chose Rust.

The Green Sock

Waaay back in May, I began a pair of green socks. Plain Jane, k3 p1 green socks in my hard-to-find emerald green. When I began, they cheered me immensely.

The problem is finishing! I have knitted not very much at all in the last few months. Not for lack of opportunity, but because there are so many things to do, places to go! and because when I finally do sit down... I don't even want to face the Eternal Green Sock!

I'm tired of k3, p1. I'm tired of size 0 needles. I'm even tired of green! Sock #1 is completed, but Sock #2 is dragging on half of forever. I took it traveling (see July!). Even as a captive audience on the plane, ferpetessakes, I couldn't bring myself to work on the green sock! I did Stickdoku, which I don't even like. Serious avoidence issues here.

I should show it: go on a sewing binge and get some new clothes! Finish a costume or two (I'm way behind there, too). I could actually clean house.... naaah... well, I should plant my new rosebush.

Truth is, I'm out in the shop sorting type. And adding to the collection. Warped. Just warped.

Poor ol green socks. Will they see winter, 2007? or will they languish until 2008?