Peas & Carrots

As I'm reading the manual for my Kelsey and other information out there, I keep seeing "Use no more ink than the size of a pea to start with." The manual was first published in 1952 and I'm wondering if a pea was the same size as it is in 2010. I've tried a few times to use less ink and it hasn't worked well. I'd say I use about 10 peas worth. I wonder if this only pertains to oil inks. I started out using oil ink, but couldn't stand to do the clean up. My print shop is in the middle room of our Brooklyn Railroad apartment and the first night I used the cleaning solution for oil inks, I woke up repeatedly all night. I was dreaming that I was slowly poisoning us and kept checking to see if my husband was still breathing. I immediately ordered water based inks from Faust Ink. They've been working lovely ever since. I do think I tend to over saturate the ink wheel when using metal type, but the polymer plates seem to require a little more.

I've been super entertained by this manual. Taken out of context, some phrases are kinda funny.
Type is "off its feet" made me smile.

All this pea talk gave me a craving for the little sweet veggies. Along with carrots, onions, and chicken, it made a delightful dinner.