Advertised in The Inland Printer (September 1953, p.119; it does not appear in previous or subsequent issues). This press features a reciprocating bed and a belt-driven oscillating roller. It may not have been put into production. Has anyone seen one of these? The manufacturer was based in Forth Worth, so perhaps one of our Texan friends?
Built by printer-inventor Kenneth J. Dollahite (1892-1963) who held several printing equipment patents. California Safety News, (October 1923) noted that he had become blinded in an accident by lye.
Birth: Dec. 26, 1892
Death: Apr. 11, 1963
Burial: Laurel Land Memorial Park, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
Thank you for sharing these details about your grandfather’s life. Yes, please do send me PDFs of any documents you find. I will gladly post them.
K.J. Dollahite was my grandfather. He designed, patented, and built several printing presses, related machines, and small parts during his printing career–most after being blinded at the age of 21! He modeled the mechanisms from cardboard, I was told. When he passed away, his son/my uncle took over the printing and manufacturing business. He ran it from the 60s through the 80s or 90s. My uncle then sold Dollahite Printing to another employee/manager. I am not sure when it changed names or what the new name was. I believe it closed in the late 90s or early 2000s. There aren’t any survivors left ask. But my aunt and uncle maintained Dollahite Manufacturing (still included a couple of different small parts) until they passed away in 2003 & 2007, respectively. Dollahite was highly intelligent, well-read, well-spoken, and well-written. He ran the business and kept inventing throughout his life, was a self-taught pianist and violinist, had four children after he was blinded, played catch and batted a ball around with my mother — she became a pretty good pitcher ;-) and was even known to sneak the car out for a drive (also under my mother’s navigation). It’s nice to see that others in the industry are still interested in what my grandfather accomplished. I may have a few brochures and articles in a box somewhere. If I find them, I will send you the pdfs.