greetings all I am new to the forum, and was hoping someone could help me track down form rollers for a challenge proof press. My rollers were thrown out by a janitor (i had them off of my press so i could do some brayering) and it’s been difficult to track any down. i may [...]
Archive for the Fabrication Category
Sourcing a steel bed plate - Posted July 15, 2011
Other than a junkyard, does anyone have any idea where to source a .050″ cold-rolled steel bed plate to obtain type height on a galley-height press? Thanks for any assistance.
Machining a metal rider roller for SP-15 - Posted July 14, 2011
I got an SP-15 press with a missing rider roller. I purchased the brass end pieces from NA Graphics, and am about to go to my location machine shop and have the roller made, bringing with me a borrowed roller from another SP-15. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice? Is there a national company [...]
Durometer spec for Vandercook 05 impression cylinder? - Posted July 12, 2011
I’m getting the impression cylinder recovered on my 05 proof press and am hoping to find the original Vandercook specification for the durometer on the Vulcanized rubber coating. Mine is probably still sporting the original rubber which is very hard and not very pliable at the moment. I heard durometer 70 somewhere… Can anyone provide [...]
Screw threads: Anglo vs. American - Posted April 27, 2011
This will likely be of interest to owners of British-built Vandercooks: Chip Coakley (the Jericho Press) emailed me with the serial number on his No. 4 made by Pre-Press Ltd. and to let me know that its original brass bearing blocks had British Standard Whitworth interior threads. When he bought replacement blocks from NA Graphics, [...]
Asbern AD-1 - Posted November 3, 2010
Hello Vanderpeople, I recently acquired a Asbern Ad-1 proofing press, unfortunately the power inking assembly has been long removed. Looking either for a scrap asbern or inking assembly, if one exists or specs on replicating the assembly. Any advice helps. serial# 8038 ADR-1 -keegan
Vandercook 099 Proofpress – Poor Impression - Posted October 7, 2010
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 [...]
Restoring an SP-20 (i.e. hunting for parts) - Posted April 14, 2009
Hello all – – I had the great fortune of saving an SP20 from the scrapyard earlier this Spring. However, it was not quite as complete as I remembered it being when I first found it last Fall. Someone clearly attempted to dismantle it sometime in its history, then abandoned it, and the only old [...]
Sleeve attachment for hand-activated grippper bar - Posted August 6, 2008
This post related to Hand gripper lever for a No. 3. –PM: Here’s a quick sketch. I don’t have a #3 around me, but if the Gripper Trip Lever is anything like a #4 or an SP-20, you can undo the top 2 screws and let it swing free, slide the tube over, and reassemble.
Vandercook & Sons Metal Fabricating Pin Punch - Posted March 18, 2008
I spotted this on ebay 370033826590 – somebody might be interested – what is it? John arcane devices
Vandercook to the rescue - Posted May 28, 2007
I was visiting our machine shop we use occasionally in Durango last week and Jim Melcher, co-owner of Melcher Machine Works was turning down the end shaft of a huge steel forging used in a coal mine. He handed me some shavings laying near the lathe and asked me if I knew what it was, [...]

