I’m wondering if the following sequence of events seems unreasonable to get a very, very clean print on a Universal III. The project is an important certificate for a major university signed by the president and all. This is essentially for the text part of the certificate, not including the recipient’s name. Printing area is [...]

If given the chance, would you prefer: Challenge Proof Press Model 1418E or 1926 Vandercook Model 21 Roller Series ???

what is a good resource for paper? i’m looking for paper suppliers that sell paper and cardstock for letterpress, offset printing, book binding, and packaging. any good websites come to mind?

Hi Folks , Many thanks to all who responded to my earlier post. I have found some of the gripper bar parts, and have been told that there may be others somewhere in a garage of a previous owner so I’m chasing that up before committing to a newly fabricated one. I’ll post a picture [...]

Hi folks, I have just acquired a very sad Universal I AB which from a first look is missing a few parts. I am hoping to get it back in good order but really don’t know how I will even be able to make a start without a reasonably detailed manual. Is there such a [...]

Hi All I’m cleaning up my 325G and noticed someone had painted the Bed, Bearers and Racks. Will that affect printing (packing, etc.) and is it necessary to strip it all down to bare metal? If so, can anyone advise on the best and/or least toxic way to go? Thanks for any help! Steve

I just received the one that I ordered from NA graphics, and it’s really hard to see the images. Does an original exist?  A high quality scan as opposed to a xerox?

Hello, fellow printers. After years of searching for an SP-15, I’ve finally acquired one from Kurt Hansen in Auburn, California.  It has been sitting for some time, however, and needs some service before it’s ready to roll. Though I am familiar with the operation of the press, I am not trained in how to restore [...]

I am happy to announce that I’ve been chosen to receive a Fulbright award to study Book Conservation at West Dean College in West Sussex England. I’ll be studying for two years, beginning September 2010. Community engagement and cultural exchange are integral parts of the Fulbright program, and accordingly I am looking to conduct free [...]

I’m sorry for having problems two days in a row, but here’s another phenomenon that I’m not understanding. These two drop caps (48-point Rondo) were printed one after the other – same lockup, same ink, same paper, same packing, same everything – yet the print quality is markedly different. What could have made the difference? [...]

Hello Vanderblog Friends, I’m hoping someone can help me solve a problem I’ve been having with ink being where it’s not supposed to be. The piece I’m printing has two lines on which I’m getting flecks of errant ink. The problem occurs no matter how much ink I have on the rollers, and the ink [...]

What do you think is the narrowest space that a Uni I could fit through without taking the press apart? I am looking for a house and this question came up. We like one house with a walkout basement but the doorway is only 31″ wide. Thanks for your input!