Kelsey 5x8 vs. Adana 8x5

Hey Mega,

trying to start a holy war? :) just teasing…

both presses have their adherents. Here’s a few general advantages of each, I’m sure others will chime in:

Kelsey:

1. widely available and usually cheaper than the Adana, particularly in the USA where Kelsey was made and Adana was imported.

2. Cast Iron construction is generally stronger than machined aluminum, although if you’re creating metal stresses that would break either you’re clearly doing something wrong like printing a too large form or having too much packing or something.

3. Rollers and some parts available from NA Graph. Chases come up regularly on ebay.

Adana:

1. generally more precisely machined and built so registration is more precise and make ready is less.

2. Manufactured until 1999, after which the vestiges of the company were sold to Caslon which still sells parts and refurbished presses. Good to have available parts. Rollers are readily available.

General thoughts:

8x5 is 8x5 and both presses will print the same size form.

If I lived in the UK I’d buy the Adana, if I lived in the US, I’d probably go for the Kelsey just due to the availability of parts and the fact that Adana presses alway seem to sell at a higher price than the Kelsey. That said, I have a slight preference for the Adana which is a more precisely built press.

If you’re looking for a step up to a 5x8, there is a Craftsmen 5x8 which is more strongly built than either and given the current crazy prices with Kelsey’s going for $800 and Craftsmen going for $1000, the incremental step to a craftsmen is smaller than it used to be.

If you’re serious about 5x8 form factor, other presses start to come into play including Goldings and others which are floor models, treadle powered, but still in the 400# weight range which makes them compatible with apartment dwellers.

I’m sure others will chime in.

Cheers,

Alan