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Baltimore jobber

American History Museum

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Object Details

maker

J.F.W. Dorman

Description

This platen jobber with clamshell mechanism was made by J. F. W. Dorman of Baltimore in about 1890; its chase (missing) measures 8 inches by 12 inches.
J. F. W. Dorman started out as a stencil cutter in 1866, then became a supplier of rubber stamps and stationery material, and carried his business up into boys’ presses in the 1870s, and then briefly into full-size jobbing presses. His shop was lost in the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904. After that disaster the company returned to its original line of office supply.
The Baltimore Jobber—the largest of Dorman’s “Baltimore” name series—has a simple clamshell mechanism, and an unusually massive counterweight to the platen, swinging between the sides of the frame.
Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Otto Donner, 1970.
Citation: Elizabeth Harris, "Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection," 1996.

Location

Currently not on view

Date made

circa 1890

date made

ca 1890

ID Number

GA.23260

catalog number

GA*23260

accession number

291752

Object Name

Press, Printing

Other Terms

Press, Printing; Printing; Relief; Flatbed Platen

Physical Description

metal (overall material)
wood (overall material)

Measurements

chase (missing): 8 in x 12 in; 20.32 cm x 30.48 cm
overall: 43 in x 58 in x 63 in; 109.22 cm x 147.32 cm x 160.02 cm

place made

United States: Maryland, Baltimore

See more items in

Work and Industry: Graphic Arts
Communications
Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-9c58-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_1211846

Discover More

Small, cylindrical handheld press with a wooden handle.

Platen Jobbers

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