I’m missing a feedboard and metal lip for my 219 OS. Does anyone have a replacement or has anyone rigged a workable system without an original piece? Any help would be much appreciated. Jordan

This post is in response to a query on Letpress: Vandercook first issued serial numbers on presses in 1914. Until about 1925 they were located directly on the press bed at the right end midway between the lock up pins. It may be hidden by a removable bed plate and/or rust and oxided ink. This [...]

Rather suddenly my rollers decided to crap out by not inking the form evenly. I am using photopolymer plates. The Problem Form is not being inked evenly. Ink is heaviest at the beginning of the form (the area the form rollers hit first). Based on the image above, it appears that the rollers are not [...]

Keith Cross phoned me this morning asking what he should do about oiling the motors on the two Mass Art shop Vandercooks. One has an oil cup (or two?) with spring cap(s); the other, two cap bolts on top of the gear box similar to my late model SP15. What did I do about oiling [...]

Dear all, apologies if my first post is somewhat ‘how long is a piece of string’. I am looking to buy a Vandercook (in terms of model I am guided by what becomes available but very possibly a 4), but my interest is printing rather than engineering, whilst I appreciate some maintaince and running repairs [...]

Does anyone have a working forward / backward switches for a Universal III they would be willing to sell? I also need the microswitch that is on the lower backside of the press closest to the feedboard, but this doesn’t seem quite as critical. Any help would be appreciated. Ray Nichols / Lead Graffiti

Hi, folks. I am writing about a damaged Uni I that I have been working on intermittently over the past 10 months. When the press was shipped to me, it was struck and dragged along the right-hand side of the carrriage. Obviously I’ve learned my lesson where crating is concerned but I cannot for the [...]

I’m having a problem with my steel roller (the large one that oscillates) binding against the inner form roller when the carriage returns. After returning one or two inches it binds regardless of location, i.e.: If I lift and lower the oscillating roll, it still binds at any point on the return trip. One side [...]

This is my first post. I went through the pictures on the Vandercook web site and the proof press we have looks like the 11×25 1/2 Trip Action Vandercook Proof Press. I am a 4th generation printer in Cincinnati OH. Would anyone venture a guess at the value of this press. Thanks for your answer, [...]

Can anyone give me some tips or point me towards a good resource for learning how to change the tympan paper on the roller of the good ole’ No. 4?  It’s worn down quite a bit, and it also needs a bit less packing as the impression I’m getting is too deep.  Thanks!

I have a problem with sticky grippers on my SP-15. Everything was working fine, then they became stiffer and stiffer until they didn’t want to open at all. As far as I can tell the foot pedal assembly is fine. I’ve taken apart the gripper assembly, cleaned and lubricated it. While it seems to work [...]

My SP-15, now in full use for several months, has a squeak in the area of the operator’s side of the carriage which I can’t seem to locate precisely or get rid of. The noise occurs mid-way in travel down the bed, and happens only when on print, not on trip. I routinely oil all [...]