Images(8)

Machine, Engraving

Object number2014.137.1 a-d

Manufacturer Allan Everett Francis

Datec. 1879

MediumMetal/Wood/Paint/Leather/Paper/Celluloid/Ink/Graphite/Adhesive tape

Credit LineGift of Norman Karp and Family

DescriptionFrancis Engraving Machine with blue tray of character templates, red tray of character templates, and envelope with numerous knobs.Dimensions(a) Height 47.25, Width 27.25, Depth 35;
(b) Height 14.75, Width 20, Depth 1.875;
(c) Height 7.813, Width 11.625, Depth 2;
(d) Envelope: Height 3.375, Width 6.5; knobs vary in size.
Inscriptions(b)
Top tray has three rows of uppercase Olde-English-style character templates with a vertical arrow through each letter:
Top row is A-I: quantity are A-1, B-2, C-2, D-2, E-2, F-2, G-2, H-1, I-1;
Middle row is J-R: quantity are J-4, K-2, L-1, M-2, N-2, O-3, P-2, Q-1, R-2;
Bottom row is S-Z and &: quantities are S-2, T-4 (two of the T's are the same and the other two are similar to each other but slightly different), U-2, V-2, W-2, X-2, Y-2, Z-2, &-2;

Bottom tray has three rows of lowercase Olde-English-style character templates; the numerals have a vertical arrow through each numeral:
Top row is numerals 1-0, hyphen, and period: quantity are #1-1, #2-2, #3-2, #4-2, #5-2, #6-1, #7-2, #8-2, #9-2, #0-2, hyphen-2, period-4;
Middle row is p-z: quantity are p-2, q-2, r-2, s-2, t-2, u-2, v-2, w-2, x-2, y-2, z-2;
Bottom row is a-o: quantities are a-2, b-2, c-2, d-1, e-2, f-2, g-2, h-2, i-2, j-2, k-2, l-2, m-2, n-2, o-2.

Both trays:
Underneath each character section is the corresponding character handwritten in pencil on the wood divider.
Some of the characters also have their character handwritten in pencil on the front in the bottom right corner.
Some of the characters have "PATENTED" on the reverse.

(c)
Top tray has three rows of uppercase cursive-style character templates:
Top row is A-G: quantity are A-2, B-1, C-2, D-1, E-2, F-1, G-2;
Middle row is I-P (No H characters): quantity are I-2, J-1, K-2, L-1, M-1, N-4 (two uppercase N and two large lowercase n), O-2, P-2;
Bottom row is &, S-T, and V-Z (No Q, R, and U characters): quantities are &-2, S-1, T-1, V-2, W-2, X-2, Y-2, Z-2.

Bottom tray has three rows of lowercase cursive-style alpha-numeric character templates:
Top row is 1-0 and a-g: quantity are #1-1, #2-2, #3-2, #4-2, #5-1, #6-1, #7-2, #8-2, #9-2, #0-1, a-2, b-1, c-2, d-1, e-1, f-2, g-2;
Middle row is h, j-s, and u (No i and t characters): quantity are h-2 (slightly different), j-2, k-2, l-1, m-2, n-2, o-2, p-2, q-2, r-2, s-1, u-1;
Bottom row is v-z: quantities are v-2, w-2, x-2, y-1, z-2.

Both trays:
Some of the characters have "PATENTED" on the reverse.

(d)
Manila envelope has black text in top left corner "KARP'S JEWELRY STORE / MARKET AT JEFFERSON / KITTANNING, PA. 16201" and at top center "HAND / STAMP".
Historical NotesPart of a collection of jewelers tools and equipment from various Karp family jewelry stores. David Karp (Kerpilof originally) was a Latvian immigrant and watchmaker. His children all went into the jewelry business as well. His eldest Reuben had a store in Kittanning, PA, called Karp’s Credit Jewelry. Middle son Elchan ran his father’s original store in Barnesboro until closing it and opening another in Clarion, PA. Third son Harry M. Karp, a WWII veteran and survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack, opened Karp’s Jewelry store in Tarentum, PA, after the war and operated it until his retirement in 1987. The youngest and only daughter Lillian was an optometrist and worked in the Barnesboro store during WWII. She went on to open a jewelry store in Alliquippa, PA, with her husband Milton Yeager. Donor Norman Karp is the son of Reuben, his maternal grandfather was also a watchmaker from Latvia named Abraham Berman.

Related institution Karp's Jewelry Store

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