The Lightning platen job press was invented in about 1896 by John M. Jones, of Palmyra, New York. It was manufactured for five years by the first of the five companies Jones established in Palmyra between 1867 and 1901. In 1901, another of Jones’s companies, Jones-Gordon Press Works, took over the manufacture of the Lightning, but apparently manufacture of the press was discontinued in about 1903.

Most of the 12 or 13 platen job presses Jones invented and manufactured are relatively simple treadle-powered clamshell-style presses, and the Lightning is one of these. It is not known how many sizes, if more than one, were offered. Not many examples of the Lightning jobber are known to have survived.

The Liberty platen job press was invented by Frederick Otto Degener of New York City, and patented by him in 1859 and 1860. Degener had worked for George P. Gordon as a draftsman, and left Gordon’s employment to develop, manufacture, and market the Liberty press. Initially the Liberty was offered in three sizes, a No. 1, 4×7; No. 2, 6×10; and No. 3, 10×15. Later the Model 1 was discontinued, the size of the No. 2 increased to 7×11, and a No. 2A, 9×13 and a No. 4, 13×19 were added to the line. Still later a No. 3A, 11×17, and a No. 5, 14-1/2×22 were added as well.

Sometime between 1863 and 1865 Francis M. Weiler became a partner and the firm became Degener & Weiler. Degener died in 1873, and his son took his place in the partnership, but in about 1877 Weiler purchased Degener’s share of the business and the company name became F. M. Weiler and then Liberty Machine Works. After opening a manufacturing plant in Germany, Weiler closed the US manufacturing plant in about 1892 and after that year all Liberty presses were built in Germany.