Comments on: Potter Proof Presses http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/ »A forum for flatbed cylinder proof presses Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:54:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Paul Moxon, Moderator http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1444 Paul Moxon, Moderator Sat, 14 Jul 2007 14:12:42 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1444 Jonathan: I do think it's a No.2 and that it will suit your purpose. Just don't over pack the cylinder or you risk throwing the impression bearings out of adjustment, damaging the bearers or breaking the wood type. Jonathan: I do think it’s a No.2 and that it will suit your purpose. Just don’t over pack the cylinder or you risk throwing the impression bearings out of adjustment, damaging the bearers or breaking the wood type.

]]> By: The Arm NYC http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1443 The Arm NYC Sat, 14 Jul 2007 12:37:41 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1443 Maybe try asking these folks what they think of theirs which also appears to be a #2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenspeckle/310752546/ I just noticed this one on Craigslist in the S.F. Bay area. Price is $150. http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/clt/370330867.html Daniel Morris The Arm Letterpress Brooklyn, NY Maybe try asking these folks what they think of theirs which also appears to be a #2:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenspeckle/310752546/

I just noticed this one on Craigslist in the S.F. Bay area. Price is $150.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/clt/370330867.html

Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

]]> By: Jonathan Selikoff http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1442 Jonathan Selikoff Sat, 14 Jul 2007 01:55:52 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1442 Am I right that is a No.2? There didn't seem to be any other markings on the machine, although I couldn't get behind it. For me to use in making prints with woodtype, not large runs, you think this is worth buying? Anything I need to specifically check out to make sure it's fully functional? I'd hate to have an 800 lb door stop in my garage. Am I right that is a No.2? There didn’t seem to be any other markings on the machine, although I couldn’t get behind it.

For me to use in making prints with woodtype, not large runs, you think this is worth buying? Anything I need to specifically check out to make sure it’s fully functional? I’d hate to have an 800 lb door stop in my garage.

]]> By: The Arm NYC http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1441 The Arm NYC Fri, 13 Jul 2007 22:41:41 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1441 Jonathan, Thanks for adding the images. It is interesting to see the Hacker and Potter names on the same badge. Further down the line you see Hacker and Vandercook names together on badges of things like type high and plate gauges. Daniel Morris The Arm Letterpress Brooklyn, NY Jonathan,
Thanks for adding the images. It is interesting to see the Hacker and Potter names on the same badge. Further down the line you see Hacker and Vandercook names together on badges of things like type high and plate gauges.

Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

]]> By: The Arm NYC http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1437 The Arm NYC Mon, 09 Jul 2007 20:29:42 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1437 Jonathan, For your bed plate just take the bed measurements (length and width) to a machine shop and instruct them to cut you a piece of .050 cold rolled steel. Don't let them use galvanized because it has too much variation in thickness. Daniel Morris The Arm Letterpress Brooklyn, NY Jonathan,
For your bed plate just take the bed measurements (length and width) to a machine shop and instruct them to cut you a piece of .050 cold rolled steel. Don’t let them use galvanized because it has too much variation in thickness.

Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

]]> By: Paul Moxon, Moderator http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1436 Paul Moxon, Moderator Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:35:38 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1436 A galley plate is .050" thick. (same as a galley). A chase is less than type high, otherwise it would take ink and print. Assuming that you have lock up pins in one end of the press bed you could use a dear bar and a positive lock up bar. However, using a chase with quoins is your best choice for locking up forms on this press, mainly because when printing wood type you'll find the need to add underlays to particular sorts that are no longer type high. With a chase you can simply lift the whole form and spot up where needed. Of course after you set it on the bed again you'll need to unlock the form and plane it again. I would not glue down any material to the bed you will inevitably need to remove it for a subsequent job. A galley plate is .050″ thick. (same as a galley). A chase is less than type high, otherwise it would take ink and print.

Assuming that you have lock up pins in one end of the press bed you could use a dear bar and a positive lock up bar. However, using a chase with quoins is your best choice for locking up forms on this press, mainly because when printing wood type you’ll find the need to add underlays to particular sorts that are no longer type high. With a chase you can simply lift the whole form and spot up where needed. Of course after you set it on the bed again you’ll need to unlock the form and plane it again.

I would not glue down any material to the bed you will inevitably need to remove it for a subsequent job.

]]> By: Jonathan Selikoff http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1435 Jonathan Selikoff Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:53:20 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1435 Only 800 lbs! I should be able to do that myself... Thanks for the information. I'll have to go over the press abit more next time I'm at the guy's shop to get a better idea of its condition. One other question: the owner said it was for use with galleys. Does that suggest that the bed isn't type-high, but needs an underlay (or a large galley)? A chase would only be type-high. Is there a positive lockup bar for these presses like the Vandercooks? If I wanted to add something like that, I could probably just either glue down a piece of wood or metal, I suppose. Only 800 lbs! I should be able to do that myself…

Thanks for the information. I’ll have to go over the press abit more next time I’m at the guy’s shop to get a better idea of its condition.

One other question: the owner said it was for use with galleys. Does that suggest that the bed isn’t type-high, but needs an underlay (or a large galley)? A chase would only be type-high.

Is there a positive lockup bar for these presses like the Vandercooks? If I wanted to add something like that, I could probably just either glue down a piece of wood or metal, I suppose.

]]> By: The Arm NYC http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1434 The Arm NYC Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:14:45 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1434 Hello Jonathan, Since you plan to work primarily from wood type this press might be a decent choice. The grippers are not very advanced on these machines and there is no feed board so registration may be a bit hit and miss. You will probably want to tape down some sort of side guide on the tympan to register the far edge of the sheet. And since this press was for printing type in a chase you will need to either add a dead bar to the far end of the bed or work within a chase. Using a hand brayer to ink wood type isn't nearly as tricky as on small metal type. If the price is right (I'd say under $600 if the press is clean and complete) then I think it could be right up your alley. And at only 800 lbs., the move shouldn't be too horrible either! Daniel Morris The Arm Letterpress Brooklyn, NY Hello Jonathan,
Since you plan to work primarily from wood type this press might be a decent choice. The grippers are not very advanced on these machines and there is no feed board so registration may be a bit hit and miss. You will probably want to tape down some sort of side guide on the tympan to register the far edge of the sheet. And since this press was for printing type in a chase you will need to either add a dead bar to the far end of the bed or work within a chase.
Using a hand brayer to ink wood type isn’t nearly as tricky as on small metal type. If the price is right (I’d say under $600 if the press is clean and complete) then I think it could be right up your alley. And at only 800 lbs., the move shouldn’t be too horrible either!

Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

]]> By: Paul Moxon, Moderator http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1433 Paul Moxon, Moderator Mon, 09 Jul 2007 01:33:44 +0000 http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/07/08/potter-proof-presses/#comment-1433 There Potters notes on the "Other Brands":http://vandercookpress.info/other.html page and images on a "Potter":http://vandercookpress.info/potter.html sub page. There Potters notes on the Other Brands page and images on a Potter sub page.

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