Our #4 has a squeak that appears to be coming from the ink drum. In attempting to find the source of the squeak, we have noticed the ink drum is VERY close to the operator side of the press(less than an ink knife blade). I did a little careful cleaning with a utility blade and [...]

Hello Vanderfolks. I am in the process of finally getting my old #3 up and running again. A lot of dust, dirt, a little rust and the paper clasp pins don’t open. Looks like I have mostly cleaning and lubricating to do. My question is really simple. For those of you who have been through [...]

I was running some small posters yesterday on my Uni I AB.  Things were going smoothly until the powered carriage was moving towards the end of the bed and got stuck midway.  It just stopped.  I run it pretty slowly so it wasn’t a very sudden stop it just was rolling along and then wasn’t. [...]

Apologies if this has been discussed before, but does anyone know the typeface(s) used on the Vandercook manual, or on the identification sign / tag on the press? I have a 1962 SP-15. I want to guess it’s something like Gill Sans or a popular modern font of the time, but perhaps they had their [...]

Hello Vanderfriends, Would love some to get some thoughts on a roller issue. First I should mention that I am working with new rollers and a press that is new to me so I unfortunately don’t have a frame of reference for past performance. I’m experiencing an imbalance with noticeably heavier ink coverage on one [...]

die makers

Good Day Vanderbloggers, I have recently acquired a “fixer-upper” UNI-1 needing everything related to the inking on the press including the drum, oscillating roller, rider and assembly, the form roller blocks, levers etc. I am looking for a parts machine (long shot) or will begin to fab what I need. I have contacted the usual [...]

This photograph shows former Vandercook Vice President Bill Critchlow (4th from left) and his sales team. Vandercook had become a division of Illinois Tool Works in 1968. Several of these names appear on the serial number/model cards held by NA Graphics. Critchlow is married to E.O. Vandercook’s daughter Lynn. Joe Koyak (3rd from left) was [...]

Recently, I spent six fun, but exhausting Vandercook-filled days in Tuscon. While there I tuned up a 215 at Chax press (at left) and a non-motorized SP15 at Heather Greene’s private studio. I then taught three workshops, gave an evening lecture at the University of Arizona and worked on four Vandercooks in the new book [...]

Harold E. Sterne (APA 502) died October 2 at age 81. Hal who co-founded NA Graphics is responsible for saving what remained of Vandercook—its records and parts inventory—from being dumped when he bought what was then called Vandersons. For this and for helping to develop the earliest version of this website and for writing the [...]

press inspector’s name  on my Uni II also showing  the type height  the press is machined for

I just purchased a Vandercook 099 Proofpress (http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/timeline/2/#099). It is in great working condition and has been well taken care of. I have experience with a Vandercook press but not this one. I have to ink the plate by hand and then place the paper on the form (it did not come with the optional [...]