My book Vandercook Presses: Maintenance, History and Resources has been reprinted and is available for immediate shipping. Order Info.

    I had an inquiry for a manual for a Potter No. 3. Does anyone have one or know someone who might? I did direct this person to the Potter census and to ATF catalog pages posted on the old site.

Revised. Thomas Gravemaker sent these photos of a German-made Grafix proof press used during a recent four day event at Officina Tipografica Novepunti in Besano, Italy. The fourth photo below shows a cylinder trip assembly similar to a Vandercook Universal (1958-76) or a No. 4 (1935-1960). Some Grafix models have an adjustable press bed. The manufacturer Haas & [...]

Enrique Woolfolk sent this ad from the August-September 1958 issue of Las Artes Gráficas en México (Vol. XI,  No. 67), which he says was the Mexican version of The Inland Printer. This Spanish language trade journal has 23 entries in WorldCat. The most interesting bit of information in this ad may be the name of the selling agent: [...]

I have several Vandercook maintenance classes scheduled through June. Details and locations on the workshops page.

Lorenzo Pellegrinelli, of Niemand Private Press in Milan, sent a link to this video of a No.3 old style Vandercook being offloaded from a truck by crane. This is the same press (sn: 7870) that was up for auction in The Netherlands in September. The feed board does not appear to exist.

Access will be restored soon. Thanks for advice and assistance from Scott Fisk, Brian Goodman and Enrique Woolvolk.

  Enrique asked me if he could use a No.4 oscillator on his SP15. The answer is yes. The tubes are the same diameter (3¾”) and the worm gear is the same part (DR-338), but the shaft and tube length of the SP15 is longer (13″) than the No. 4 (12½”). While the No. 4 [...]

This site is is undergoing a system upgrade and reorganization. Please use search field if you cannot find what your looking for, or contact me and I will do my best to direct you to the information you need. The dust will settle shortly. Thank you for your patience. Pjm

Here’s a vintage full page advertisement for a Hoe flatbed cylinder proof press from The British Printer, January-February 1933 (vol. XLV, no. 269, page 49). Hoe & Co. Ltd. was the London subsidiary of the New York printing equipment manufacturer R. Hoe & Co. Established in 1827, the parent company is remembered for their Washington-style iron handpress, but [...]

I’ve added a page to promote my new book  Vandercook Presses: Maintenance, History and Resources.

From its founding and through several decades, the Lee family ran the Challenge Machinery Company. Challenge, which began as the successor to Shniedewend & Lee, became one of the largest printing equipment manfacturers with a wide range of products. Among their many innovations were the first paper drilling machine, the first hydraulic paper cutter and [...]