Manufacturer: J.M. Jones & Co., Palmyra, NY, USA

Y.O.M: 1897

Serial No.: 2052

Size: 9" x 12"

Restored: 2013

Description:
The Lightning was one of many cheap and cheerful clamshell platen presses manufactured after George Gordon made such a splash with his Gordon Old style platen. Although Jones also built other better-made machines, including a direct copy of the Gordon, he was known mainly as a lower priced competitor. Jobbers of this kind were prolific in the late 1800’s especially when Gordon’s patents ran out. Many machines shops built versions like the Lightning and most don’t have any identification either.