Archive for November 2008

Challenge 21MP Vibrator Assembly Issues - Posted November 28, 2008

Hi Folks -

I know that I use one of the “knock offs”, a Challenge 21MP (similar to the Vandy SP15), but I’m up poop creek without a plunger. I am calling on the collective wisdom of this group….

I’ve been restoring this press (some rust – lots of gunk) and have run into a problem with the Vibrator Assembly. It is in good shape visually but will not oscilate when the press is running. it moves to the far end of the bar and stays – it doesn’t return.

I’ve looked at the parts list breakdown and can’t find anything I might be missing. Ideas?

Brent

Happy Thanksgiving - Posted November 27, 2008

Be thankful your press doesn’t look like this one. This is a 1955 No. 15 (SN 17885) seen earlier this month in Minneapolis. I don’t know the story behind it and didn’t have the time (or courage) to knock on the door. The only other 15 of this vintage I know of was salvaged by Glenn House and looks equally sad.

Inking roller squeal - Posted November 25, 2008

Yesterday morning we had a rather strange experience with our Vandercook SP-15. It was about noon and the studio was just starting to warm up. Temperature was maybe 50 degrees when we started the heater. After a bit we inked the press to print some notecards and what I think was the vibrator roller (pretty sure but it was quite hard to tell) would want to stop and would squeal. We put new Vaseline on the vibrator roller and oiled everything else. It would stop for a moment and then start back up. You could see the vibrator roller wasn’t keeping up with the rubber rollers.

Maybe after 10 minutes it stopped. Do you think running it for a while warmed it up and that cold ink / cold press is the problem?

For sale Vandercook 32-28 - Posted November 21, 2008

For sale: Vandercook 32-28, Serial number 16003, Maximum sheet: 32×30, Price $6,000.

The rollers are in excellent condition and it prints wonderful. I have printed posters using linoleum, wood and metal type, and photopolymer.

Buyer responsible for moving, I can recommend an equipment mover here in the Dallas are that hauls across the USA.

I am not using the press as much as I would like and making room for another smaller press.

Casey McGarr
Inky Lips Press

How many oil holes on a No. 4? - Posted November 7, 2008

Hello everyone,

Fritz Klinke posted a photo on the Letterpress Flickr site showing a C&P press label that refers to “about thirty-seven oil holes” that the pressman needs to attend to http://flickr.com/photos/53177163@N00/3008271735/in/pool-letterpress. I’ve always wondered — and maybe after a year-and-a-half of owning my press, I should have moved beyond the wondering stage before now — just how many oil holes there are on a Vandercook No. 4. Mine is a later model, SN 18794 shipped in October 1957.

I count 19: 8 on the operator’s side, 1 on the gripper foot pedal, and 10 on the side opposite the operator. If there are more, please, along with your condolences, give me a hint as to their whereabouts. I’m referring only to holes marked as such, and not the fill cups on the motor.

Thanks so much,

Barbara

Universal I P bumper contact - Posted November 5, 2008

Last week I was looking at a plain (no frisket) power Universal I AB which was running erratically; turns out the driving gear had loosened and was binding against the housing that covers it. Then we tried to readjust the clutch according to the manual. But when there is just enough clutch friction to pass the trip cam, it isn’t enough to get over the cylinder check cam from the feed board position. Next we’ll disassemble the clutch and clean it and see if that improves the situation.

Then, trying to follow the limit switch cam adjustment instructions, the cylinder stops at 1″, rather than the specified 1 -5/16″, and that difference happens to be the same as the thickness of a bumper leather. There are the mounting holes for bumper leathers behind the cylinder, but they are only present at the front.

So, can anyone tell me if bumper leathers should be present behind the cylinder on this press? Or are they not used in direct contact with the bumper springs?

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