I have a few extras of the original knobs (complete with insert and set screws) for the control panel on the Universal I and III power carriage presses. If you are missing a knob or have a damaged one let me know. I could sell them, but would prefer to trade for any of these parts I need for my Universal IIIs:
Auto Frisket tower spring X-3550
Washup Tray X-17380
Sheet Side Guide B-26
Metal Feedboard Edge
Vibrator Crescent M-184
Adjustable Bed Scale X-6637
Adjustable Bed Scale X-6638
Cycle Start Button
Roller Dust Cover Retaining Magnet
Gripper Lever Elbow

And just so you know, these are standard General Radio knobs available as new old stock from some of the finer folks selling American tube radio parts.

Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

I have been trying for a while to find an old style Vandercook sheet side guide for one of my 320Gs and also one of the newer ones for one of my Universal IIIs. If anyone has a spare they could sell or happens to know where I might be able to find one it would be a really big help!

UPDATE- I have found some of the parts for the 320G side guide, but still need the internals. Please see the second photo for what I have located and the third for the parts I still need. If you have any idea where I might obtain the rest I would really appreciate the tip!
Still Needed-
LR-44 Adjusting Screw
LR-46 Washer
LS-32 Side Guide
LS-152 Hold Down
LB-10 Adjusting Nut

#8-32×1/4 R’D H’D Screw x2

Thanks,
Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

I’ve been doing some printing on my newly acquired Reprex #2. At a glace the Reprex #2 looks similar to a Vandercook SP-15 in size and shape. Then when you get close you start noticing the differences. A large lever protrudes from the backside of the press.

When putting the press in trip one must first switch the press into trip with lever on the front of the press as on most presses. Then one must switch the larger lever on the back of the press to trip (see attached photo below). This two step process takes a bit of getting used to.

The press has been printing wonderfully although I have had a few issues. Occasionally, the press will automatically go into trip when printing. I quickly discovered this does not happen when I print with a kiss and tends to happen more when I apply added impression. If you have any thoughts or opinions on this issue I’d be happy to hear them. I’m still experimenting with possible solutions and I’ll let you know when I find one that works.

The paper guide on the press is unique. At first I thought it was on backwards, but that’s not so. The odd shape to the paper guide is meant to help quickly position paper and it works well.

I am trying to fix up a Vandercook 4T. When I press on the foot pedal, the pedal moves but the grippers don’t. At first I thought that the chain had stretched but when i look at the joint where the bar from the foot pedal connects to the bar that moves the chain, I can see that the joint is slipping.

I can pull on the chain and get the grippers to operate so I know they aren’t stuck.

How can I keep the joint from slipping?

As of last Friday, my boss has asigned me the job of putting back together the disassembled Vandercook Composing Room Cylinder we have here in our shop. I have been having a hard time locating pictures of this model. Does anyone have any photos of it, or dare I say, any instruction manuals for it? There is a plaque on the side of it with the patent numbers, they are as follows:
1042848 Oct. 29, 1912
1076084 Oct. 21, 1913
1100409 June 16, 1914
1120868 Dec. 15, 1914

If anyone has any info on this press please let me know. Thanks a bundle.
—Claire

I am about to have a replacement dead bar made up for one of my Universal IIIs and the original I am using as a pattern has a raised center block.  Does this block serve any function?  Should I include it in the reproduction or would I be wasting time and money?

Does anyone else need a dead bar for a Universal III while I am having this one made up?

I know that Hacker Mfg. was acquired by Vandercook, but this gauge appears to pre-date that merger. Does anyone have any information on Hacker gauges from this era?

This particular gauge has two standards (.159 and a .759) which add up to type-high. I would guess it was to be used for checking planed blocks for mounting plates as well as .159 plates which have already been mounted. Does that make sense?

I am in the process of cleaning this thing up and think it should be useful for makeready for my poster size mounted linocuts which have proven to be too large to check on my smaller Vandercook type-high gauge.

Daniel Morris asks if the No. 3 and No. 4 roller assemblies are interchangeable. I am answering in a new post so that I may add images —PM

The top frame assembly (one large diameter steel oscillating roller and two small diameter steel riders) is identical (and removable). The difference is in the bottom frame assembly (rubber form rollers), which in the No. 3 is attached via a bracket to the lift arm. Attached to the lift arm is a rubber feeder roller with a hand wheel that helps distribute ink. It may be possible to detach the bracket to use a No. 3 bottom frame on a No. 4 and vise versa. Let us know, Daniel! See photos and drawings below.

…………………….

The photo below is another view of the same press as above (with both form roller gears on far side of press as configured on a No. 4). More importantly, it shows that these gears use the same rack as the cylinder gear. Original photos by Steve Miller.

Here’s the beginning of a sad story. How will it end? I do not know. For how shall I begin my query, how shall I transmit my distress?

Our trusty Universal I automatic has lost control of itself. This press’s dilemna has been building up ever so gradually year by year, run by run. I set the press on its slowest speed and it creeps forward to the end and ends with a SLAM! I send the carriage back to the feed table and it ends with a SLAM!

I’ve had our electricians look at it with their meters & professional probes. They did replace a bad switch they detected, but the press still has such a difficult time braking. The increase braking is turned as far as it will go, and no amount of tightening the clutch makes any difference. The two horizontally adjusting bars at the rear of the press are in the same location they have always been, factory-set I assume, and hit the four switch back there at seemingly appropriate times.

What now, what now? I shall ask my Vander-brethren I say to those befuddled electricians. ‘Okay jerk’ says they. ‘Tell us what they say hotshot and we’ll order the part.’ Anybody out there willing to respond with anything remotely resembling the truth will forever have my undying admiration. For you kind sir or gentlewoman are indeed a genius and are deserving of our society’s grandest laurels.

yours in lead, ink & paper and perhaps a bit of leftover New Year’s Eve spirit(s)

teepeecee

I was recently contacted by the daughter of Edward Nolan, the manufacturer of both Nolan and Reprex proof presses. She provided me with photos and press clippings on her father’s enterprises, which allowed me to update my notes on these Other Brands. See also my post Reprex Once-over. Nolan had a range of mechanical interests including building narrow gauge steam engine trains (this link especially for Fritz). —PM