Books and monographs
[British Printer] Specification Manual of Printing Machinery 1961-1962. London: Maclean-Hunter Ltd, 1961
DeWitt, Frank. Operation of the No. 3 Vandercook Proof Press. Rochester NY: Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute, 1941. || Brief how-to booklet issued by the Department of Publishing and Printing. The school later became Rochester of Institute of Technology.
[Flader, Louis] The Vandercook Story (Photoengravers Bulletin, January 1964) || Excellent history of the development of Vandercook’s manufacturing program with photographs of several models and views of the factory. 8.8 mb PDF
Flader, Louis. Story of a Visit to the New Vandercook Plant (Reprint from Photoengravers Bulletin, June 1954) || Feature article on company with photographs of several models and views of the factory.cf: “The Vandercook Story.” 15.2mb PDF
Ganderton, V.S. Proof and Platen Presses (London: Pitman, 1946) || No.6 in Printing Theory and Practice series, John C.Tarr, gen.ed. Useful guide to all aspects of using cylinder printing presses. 5.5 mb PDF of “Chapter 1: Proofing Presses”
Harris, Elizabeth M. Printing Presses in the Graphic Arts Collection, “Galley proof and hand cylinder presses” p.47 (Washington, D.C.: The National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, 1996) || 812 kb PDF of Part 1; 940 kb PDF of Part 2
I.T.U. Lessons in Printing.”How to Pull Proofs and Make Corrections” Lesson 2. (Indianapolis, Indiana: International Typographical Union, 1970) || 3.3 mb PDF
I.T.U. Lessons in Printing.”How to Pull Repro Proofs” Lesson 24. (Indianapolis, Indiana: International Typographical Union, 1970) || 10.3 mb PDF
Lange, Gerald. Printing Digital Type on the Hand-Operated Flatbed Cylinder Press 4th ed.(Marina del Rey CA: The Bieler Press, 2007) || Essential reading for printers working with photopolymer plates. Order from Bieler Press.
Lawson, Alexander. “High Quality Reproduction Proofs Now Offered by Successful Printers to Their Customers”. Inland Printer, July, 1954. || Post at the Alexander Lawson Archive.
Smith, A.H., Boxall L.E. and Charlesworth D.H. Determination of the Covering Power of News Ink Using the Vandercook Proof Press (Leatherhead UK: Printing, Packaging & Allied Trades Research Association, 1958) || Not located: only copy in OCLC is lost.
Stewart, A A. Proof Presses (Chicago: United Typothetae of America, 1918) || Part I, No. 5 in the Typographic Technical Series for Apprentices. 2 mb PDF pp 16-21
Warner, Jacob L. Printing on a Vandercook and Other Disillusionments (Greenbelt, MD: The Boxwooder, Number 171, October 1983 issue of The Boxwooder) || Reprinted in Type & Press, Issue No. 62, Fall 1989. See Journal Articles.
Journal Articles
Brewer, Fredric. “Cylinder Pressman Shares His Expertise With Vandercook Printers” (Type & Press, Issue No. 63, Winter, 1990) || Useful response to Jacob Warner’s complaint against his cylinder press printed in Issue No. 62. 452 kb PDF
Duensing, O.F. Minimum Makeready Through Form Preparation (Chicago: Vandercook, nd) || Reprint of address to Toronto Club of Printing House Pressmen, 1954. ||2.2 mb PDF
–. “Proofs, Definition and purpose of twenty-five different kinds of proofs that are used in composing rooms, engraving departments, and pressrooms”. Ninth Graphic Arts Production Yearbook (New York: Colton Press, 1950) || 332 kb PDF
Gerry, Vance. “Making Ready on Grippered Cylinder Presses” (Letter in Type & Press, Issue No. 63, Winter, 1990, p.6) || 232 kb PDF
Hargreaves, Geoffrey D. “Correcting in the Slip, The Development of Galley Proofs” (The Library, December 1971, Vol. XXVI, No. 4 pp. 295-311) || Historical note on the production printers proofs from a bibliographic perspective.
Hinde, Charlie. “Tips for Vandercook Pressmen” (Type & Press, Issue No. 64, Spring 1990, p.5) || Tips on tail slur, tympan packing, bed of press. 76 kb PDF
Johnson, Bryan R. “Caring for your Vandercook” (Small Press Magazine. January/February 1985) || Good advice regarding the purchase of a reconditioned press. Vendor data out of date. 788 kb PDF
Lange, Gerald. “Edition Printing on the Cylinder Proof Press: A Historical Perspective” (Parenthesis: The Journal of the Fine Press Book Association, No. 3, May 1999) || Text available at Articles
Lange, Gerald. “Whither the Vandercook” (AbraCadaBrA, Number Six, Special Suspicions and Superstitions Issue. Spring of 1992)
Moxon, Paul. “Common Vandercook Operator Errors” (Galley Gab, No. 10, October 2007) || Text available at Articles
“R.O. Vandercook, Young Inventor” (Inland Printer, March 1930, p.39) || Brief Profile. PDF coming soon.
Vandercook, R. O. “Static Electricity in the Pressroom” (Inland Printer, Vol. 35. 1905) p. 745-747 || Written before the founding of his company it shows that he had a scientific bent, and suggests that he had some influence among Chicago printers of the time. 964 kb PDF
–. “Reducing Makeready Time” (Inland Printer, Vol. 60. August 1930) p. 97-98 || A bit of promotion disguised as a letter to the editor. PDF Courtesy of Fritz Klinke, NA Graphics. 2.3 mb PDF
Warner, Jacob L. “Printing on a Vandercook and Other Disillusionments” (Type & Press, Issue No. 62, Fall 1989) || Reprinted from a monograph of the same title, see Books and Monographs above. Conveys a hobbyist’s frustration from printing on an SP15. Text reveals the author is under-informed about his press, however it fostered a useful rejoinder in Type & Press, Issue 63, by Fredric Brewer. 728 kb PDF
Williams, Fred. “The ‘Vandy’ A Splendid Press!” (Type & Press, Issue 67. Winter, 1991) || Includes model specifications chart. 400 kb PDF
“The Gourmet Vandercook: Printing on a Press Never Really Designed for Printing” (Devil’s Artisan. No. 17. 1985) || Presswork advice from notable printers. Discusses Mylar top sheet packing, registration and ink. Vendor data out of date. PDF available at http://devilsartisan.porcupinesquill.ca/
Reproduction Proofs. (Chicago: Vandercook, 1965) || An outline of requirements and procedures for pulling high quality repro proofs. 1.9mb pdf
“Smithsonian Institution Gets First Proof Press Invented by Vandercook” (Printing Equipment News. March 1973) || Trade journal article. 2.2 mb PDF
