I recently acquired a # 3,  circa 1939, missing the feed roller frame assembly, part M-134. This is the roller to which ink is applied to and then hand cranked to distribute the ink to the vibrator and the form rollers. Has any one come up with a substitute method for inking the #3, or [...]

I was recently trying to set the form (inking) roller height on an SP15 and found that I was unable to properly set the gear-driven one (nearer the impression drum). There was no way the back end (closer to the gear) could drop down far enough. I measured the rollers and found that, instead of [...]

This past January, we took a three-day letterpress course from Frank Brannon at Bookworks in Asheville, NC. The letterpress bug bit and we bought an SP-15 at auction from Boggs Graphics in Ohio. The press was very clean and in excellent shape, but it had manual inking. After some tries to use the press without [...]

I read with interest Ray Nichols’ prior post regarding the resurfacing of his SP-15′s ink drum. The drum on my own SP-15 is also scratched, presumably from the previous owner’s use of the automatic washup system (the blade was missing when I bought the press, and I haven’t replaced it). The scratches on the drum [...]

I was wondering if there’s any safe way to limit the amount the vibrator oscillates on the Vandercook 4? It’s for a business card logo about an inch wide… Thank you.

Hi all, I live in France and here it is very hard to find specific material for my Vandercook Sp-15 . I search : – a Vandercook SP-15 positive lockup bar – a Vandercook roller setting gauge If you have an extra one that you are willing to sell, please contact me. Any help advice, [...]

I’m in the thick of trying to get my Vandercook 320G up and running. This is different than other Vandercooks I’ve printed on for various reasons (it’s completely manual, the metal and rubber rollers are behind the cylinder, etc). I’ve encountered a couple of things so far that I’d love advice with if you have [...]

This may prove painfully obvious, but here are the details of my issue, which I’m hoping someone out there may be able to help me with. Running a sheet through the press over a 2-page spread of metal type, head to foot, without ink I’m getting a good, clean, even impression. I then set my [...]

Our inking roller on our Vandy 3 is a bit worn, so we’re wondering if we should get it replaced before we print an initial run. We tried it out before purchasing the press, just to test it out, and it seemed to distribute the ink pretty well since it is still quite soft. That [...]

Hello Vanderblog, I went to look at a Reprex proof press today. It hasn’t been used in about 20 years and it’s pretty dirty, there’s an oily goo all over the ink drum and the bed of the press, but it seems in pretty good mechanical condition. I’m considering buying it but have some questions [...]

I’m hoping to clarify a few SP15 related mysteries. Apologies in advance for the multiple reference photos….

Hey, I got a general question about the use of the washup unit. I just got an unused orignal nylonblade for the washup unit of my “FAG Control 405″. Until now I didn’t use the washup unit, since the old blade was broken. I print around 500–1500 proofs a week, sometimes with alot of colour [...]