Vandercook Time Line 1928–1934
1928 #3446
Vandercook & Sons build a new plant at 900 North Kilpatrick Avenue (Chicago 51).
Vandercook No. 14 Proof Press 8/8/28 #3828 - 3/21/60 #19,078
See 1-14-2 Family.
From 1934 Vandercook and 1935 ATF catalogs
Bed: 14" × 26" (1934)
Maximum sheet: 14" × 28" (1935)
Maximum form: 14" × 24" (1934), 13" × 24" (1935)
Floor space including handle: 30" × 49" (1934)
Floor space: 2' × 4'2" (1935)
Shipping weight: 525 lb (cabinet 40 lb)
Price (1934): $195 (cabinet $25)
No grippers. Hand inked. Comes with stand but cabinet is optional. Tindeck blanket. Optional register device.
Vandercook 14 Hand Proof Press
From 1950 and 1957 Vandercook and 1953 WNU catalogs
Bed: 17 5/8" × 25½"
Maximum sheet: 17 3/8" × 25"
Maximum form: 16 5/8" × 23¼"
Floor space: 2'7" × 3'9"
Weight: 650 lb
Price (1950): $725 (immediate shipment)
Larger version of the 50s-era 1, which (by this time) had grippers. "Will deliver proofs of good quality providing the hand inking is done with the greatest care."
1929 #4103 and #0101. RIP 18.
Vandercook 325A Hand Proof Press 6/3/29 #4491 - 8/20/62 #21,787
Described as the same as the 325G Hand, for newspaper plants, with adjustable bed plate (for moving galleys off onto trucks, not for impression). Based on information from Eric Holub, it seems that the real distinction between the 300 series G and A presses is not that the latter are for newspapers, but that they have automatic grippers rather than gripper pedals (which are more desirable for register work). See also 325G Hand, 325A Power.
From 1935 ATF catalog
Maximum sheet: 25" × 30" Maximum form: 24" × 24½" Floor space: 3'5" × 7'9" (9'8" long w/auto delivery) Shipping weight: 2300 lb (auto delivery 150 lb, ink fountain 100 lb).
From 1950 and 1957 Vandercook and 1953 WNU catalogs
Bed: 25" × 46¼"
Maximum sheet: 24¾" × 27"
Maximum form: 24" × 24½"
Floor space: 3'4" × 7'9" (2' longer w/auto delivery)
Weight: 2000 lb (1957: 2200 lb)
Price (1950): $2230
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Vandercook 320G Hand Proof Press 10/22/29 #4493 - 4/14/58 #18,057
The 325G Hand is the larger version. See also 325A Hand.
From 1935 ATF catalog
Maximum sheet: 20" × 30"
Maximum form: 19" × 24½"
Floor space: 3' × 7'9" (9'8" long w/auto delivery)
Shipping weight: 2000 lb (auto delivery 125 lb, ink fountain 100 lbGripper pedal, rollers behind cylinder, ink table. Optional auto delivery and fountain. Thinner underblanket for #10,301 (1946) up (possibly the press below). Galley height. Monocork blanket.
From 1950 and 1957 Vandercook and 1953 WNU catalogs
Bed: 20" × 46¼"
Maximum sheet: 19¾" × 27"
Maximum form: 19" × 24½"
Floor space: 2'11" × 7'9" (2' longer w/auto delivery)
Weight: 1750 lb (1957: 1850 lb)
Price (1950): $1960
The 1957 Vandercook catalog says auto-delivery and fountain are not available.#8811 began at $800 on eBay in July 2004.
Offered for $1200 in April 2004. Inquired about by an interested buyer. Mistakenly picked up by a scrap dealer. Doggedly pursued halfway across the country as it was promised to one party, promised to second party, actually traded to a third party and finally reclaimed by the original interested buyer in May 2004 for $1480. The gory details are here.
Gravity Presses: 1929-1957 01 03 099 0
In a gravity press, the cylinder rolls on the bearers rather than on geared tracks. Vandercook gravity presses use a different serial number series than geared cylinder presses. #0101 was the first gravity press manufactured in 1929 and #07952 was the first in 1957. After that year this serial number series ended.
Vandercook No. 0 Proof Press Dates and serial numbers unknown
From 1950 and 1957 Vandercook and 1953 WNU catalogs
Bed: 13" × 32"
Maximum sheet: 12¾" × 27"
Maximum form: 12½" × 25"
Floor space: 1'6" × 3'6"
Weight: 150 lb, cabinet 55 lb
Price (1950): $175Tabletop proof press, hand inked, no crank or grippers.
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Vandercook 01 Proof Press Dates and serial numbers unknown
This press is different than the 1. See also 099
From 1935 ATF catalog
Bed: 15" × 32" Maximum sheet: 15" × 32" Maximum form: 14½" × 26" Floor space: 20" × 44" (without cabinet 20" × 32") Shipping weight: 150 lb (cabinet 100 lb).
No crank. Optional cabinet, manual inking equipment (brayer, ink plate), register device with or without hand operated grippers. An even simpler (and larger) 099.Lance Williams gives these dimensions for his #03764 (1936): Bed: 15" × 26" Floor space: 19¾" × 43" × 42".
Vandercook 03 Proof Press Dates and serial numbers unknown
This press is different than the 3.
From September 1933 Inland Printer ad
From 1935 ATF catalogBed: 25¾" × 42"
Maximum sheet: 25¾" × 42"
Maximum form: 25¼" × 34"
Floor space: 31" × 56" (without cabinet 31" × 42")
Shipping weight: 450 lb (cabinet 230 lb)
Billed as more than just a proof press: it "can also be used for printing posters, window cards, announcements, imprinting calendars, and for many other short run printing purposes."
No crank. Optional cabinet, manual inking equipment (brayer, ink plate), register device with or without foot operated grippers. Optional newspaper equipment: swinging floor plate truck lift, blocks, bed plate.
Vandercook 099 Ball Bearing Proof Press Dates and serial numbers unknown
From 1935 ATF catalogBed: 13" × 22"
Maximum sheet: 13" × 22"
Maximum form: 12½" × 16" (with sheet feed 11" × 16")
Floor space: 20" × 31" (without cabinet 20" × 22")
Shipping weight: 110 lb (cabinet 65 lb)
"The investment required is small"
No crank. Optional cabinet, manual inking outfit (brayer, ink, box, ink plate), sheet feed for laying sheets on cylinder instead of form, cabinet, and register device with or without hand operated grippers. Galley height.
From c. 1937 Vandercook catalog
"Built on a principle revolutionary in proof press design ... impression cylinder is ... constructed for self-adjustment to reasonable irregularities in type or plates. ... equipped with rubber feet."See also 01.
Vandercook 325A Power Proof Press 6/3/31 #5639 - 7/15/59 #20,095
See also 325A Hand and 325G Power
From 1935 ATF catalog
Bed: 25" × 46"
Maximum sheet: 25" × 30"
Maximum form: 24" × 24½"
Floor space: 3'10" × 9'8"
Shipping weight: 3500 lb
Automatic delivery. Monocork blanket. Advertised as identical to the 325G Power press "except for slight changes which adapt the 325A especially for proofs of newspaper forms locked in stereotype chases without printing the chase." Adjustable bed end.
From 1950 Vandercook catalog
Bed: 25" × 46¼" Maximum sheet: 24¾" × 27" Maximum form: 24" × 24½" Floor space: 3'9" × 9'10" Weight: 3000 lb Price (1950): $4490.From 1957 Vandercook catalog
“Practically every major daily newspaper in the United States is equiped with one or more Vandercock 325A Power Proof Presses.”
Vandercook 040 Imposing Surface Proof Press 6/11/31 #5653 - 10/18/37 #7579
See also 055
From 1935 ATF catalog
Bed: 42¼" × 73"
Maximum sheet: 42" × 68"
Maximum form: 40 3/8" × 63"
Floor space: 3'7" × 6'1"
Shipping weight: 1700 lb (steel imposing table 650 lb; grippers, guides and sheet brush 150 lb; automatic inking 450 lb)
“For book, magazine or catalog printers, the No. 040 affords many profit making advantages.”Talk about imposing —this thing is huge! A cool feature is the ability to raise and lower the cylinder (not the bed) in .002" increments. Forms in galleys are proved by adjusting the cylinder. Uses a vulcanized rubber impression cylinder. Optional: automatic inking; grippers, guides and sheet brush and steel imposing table.
What I don't understand is why an imposing table is an option with this press, since it's essentially an imposing table by itself (complete with galley racks) — with a proof press stuck on top. [MW]
Vandercook 23 Electric Proof Press 7/15/31 #5584 - 1/12/43 #9795
From 1935 ATF catalog
Bed: 15" × 28"
Maximum sheet: 15" × 30"
Maximum form: 14" × 28"
Floor space: 2'9" × 4'5"
Shipping weight: 1500 lbCapable of 40 or more proofs a minute— clearly for when you want multiple copies of one proof. Rubber impression cylinder allows tolerance of .015" in form height. Motor driven ink drum. The 22 is the smaller version. See also HS27.
Vandercook 23 Safe Electric Galley Proof Press
From 1950 and 1957 Vandercook catalogsBed: 15" × 26"
Maximum sheet: 14¾" × 30"
Maximum form: 14" × 26"
Floor space: 3' × 4'9"
Weight: 1800 lb (1957: 1900 lb)
Price (1950): $3165
40 proofs per minute. Rubber impression cylinder, four form rollers. No grippers - sheet is laid on form by hand.
This press is so safe, an egg will stop it,
thus preventing many breakfast-related injuries.
Vandercook No. 3 Proof Press 11/20/31 #5777 - 11/10/58 #19,182
This press is different than the 03.Hand-cranked, inking system, no gripper foot pedal, no ink table, rollers in front of cylinder, travelling sheet delivery tray, feed roller. Advertised for "critical reproduction proofs." Galley height bed.
A "new style" began in 1936. Note the differences in cabinet and especially the print/trip lift arm which is exposed in the top image [PM].
From 1941 Vandercook catalogs
Bed: 15" × 35"
Maximum sheet: 14¾" × 20"
Maximum form: 14" × 18"
Floor space: 2'2" × 6'6"
Weight: 1000 lb
From 1950 and 1957 Vandercook catalogs
Bed: 15" × 35"
Maximum sheet: 14¾" × 20"
Maximum form: 14" × 18"
Floor space: 2'2" × 6'6"
Weight: 1000 lb
Price (1950): $1360
#14,105 sold for $1000 on eBay in May 2004.
Private Press At NeverendingNow
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Vandercook Foreign Sales Agents circa 1932
General European Agent: M.M. Baker, London [Soldan by 1938]
France: Deberny & Peignot, Paris
Canada: Canada, Toronto Type Foundry Co. Ltd., Toronto [Sears Ltd. by 1937]
Australia & New Zealand: Alex. Cowan & Sons, Melbourne
Vandercook 216 Dates and serial numbers unknown
From an ad in the 1932 Inland Printer
Printing Surfaces 16" x 22"
Power ink distributionHand or Power operated
Vandercook 222 2/20/32 #5830 - 6/15/36 #6734From an ad in the 1932 Inland Printer
22½" x 34 "
Power ink distribution
Hand or power operated
Vandercook 226 Dates and serial numbers unknown
From an article by Fred Williams
Bed: 28" × 45"
Maximum sheet: 26" × 42"
Maximum form: 25" × 38"
Floor space: 4'6" × 12'
Net weight: 4850 lb.
Vandercook 315 3/18/32 #137A - 2/12/36 #6512
See also 317
From 1931 Sales Sheet
Automatic grippers
Bed: 15" × 43"
Printing Surface: 15" × 24½"
Floor space required:30" × 80"
Net weight: 1350 lb
Vandercook 032 6/23/32 #5875 - 12/29/55 #18,046
This press is different than the 32.
From 1940 Catalog
Automatic grippers
Rubber impression cylinder
Bed: 32" × 72"
Optional automatic inking systemHand Inking
Sheet size: 31¾" × 56"
Printing Surface: 31" × 53-7/8"
Floor space required: 30" × 80"
Net weight: 2550 lb
Automatic Inking System
Sheet size: 31¾" × 44"
Printing Surface: 31 " × 42¼"
Floor space required: 30" × 80"
Net weight: 2700 lb
Vandercook No. 31 Roller Series Proof Press Dates and serial numbers unknown
From 1934 Vandercook catalog
Maximum form: 15½" × 26". Floor space: 34" × 53". Shipping weight: 900 lb. Price (1934): $275.
Hand inked. No grippers. Optional cabinet. Part of the No. 15 family.
Vandercook No. 2 Proof Press 2/16/34 #6034 - 3/6/59 #18,524
See 1-14-2 Family
From 1934 Vandercook and 1935 ATF catalogs
Bed: 20" × 26" (1934)
Maximum sheet: 20" × 28" (1935)
Maximum form: 20" × 24" (1934), 19" × 24" (1935)
Floor space including handle: 41" × 53" (1934)
Floor space: 2'6" × 4'2" (1935)
Shipping weight: 675 lb
No grippers. Hand inked. Cabinet included. Tindeck blanket. Optional register device.
Vandercook 2 Hand Proof Press
From 1950 and 1957 Vandercook and 1953 WNU catalogsBed: 24" × 50½"
Maximum sheet: 23¾" × 26½"
Maximum form: 23" × 24½"
Floor space: 2'8" × 4'3"
Weight: 955 lb (1957: 1000 lb)
Price (1950): $885
“Intended for proving full page newspaper pages in galleys or stereotype chases.” Galley height. Optional adjustable bed end plate (for transfering forms to and from trucks).Sold for $405 on eBay in February 2004.
Vandercook 22 Electric Proof Press 3/29/34 #6051 - 2/19/60 #20,132
See also 23, HS27
From 1935 ATF catalog
Bed: 10" × 26"
Maximum sheet: 10" × 28"
Maximum form: 8" × 26"
Floor space: 2' × 3'9"
Shipping weight: 830 lb
High speed (40 or more proofs per minute). Rollers wrap around under bed. Uses different form roller for #10,410 (1947) up (possibly the press shown below). Smaller version of the original 23, but lasted much longer.
From 1953 WNU and 1957 Vandercook catalogs
Bed: 10" × 25½"
Maximum form: 8" × 25½"
Floor space: 1'11" × 3'8"
Weight: 515 lb (1957: 480 lb)Three form rollers. Safety bars in front of cylinder and form rollers. Impression control.
Vandercook 325G Power Proof Press 4/16/34 #6056 - 2/16/60 #20,097
From 1935 ATF catalog
Bed: 25" × 46"
Maximum sheet: 25" × 30"
Maximum form: 24" × 24½"
Floor space: 3'10" × 9'8"
Shipping weight: 3500 lbAutomatic delivery, Monocork blanket, galley height. The 325A Power is the "newspaper" version of this press, without the gripper pedal. See 29-24G and 29-24A for a similar pair. See also 325G Hand.
From 1950 and 1957 Vandercook catalogs
Bed: 25" × 46¼"
Maximum sheet: 24¾" × 27"
Minimum sheet: 4" × 6"
Maximum form: 24" × 24½"
Floor space: 3'9" × 9'10"
Weight: 3000 lb
Price (1950): $4350“Intended mainly for commercial plants where larger volume of proofs is required with greater speed” (1000 proofs/hour).
