Just when I thought there wasn’t much more to be learned about Vandercook history, I saw this circa 1943, full-page display ad in a trade journal on ebay for a ink manufacturer touting their two-color Vandercook. The running footer on the back of this page reads “Packaging Catalog” (WorldCat). The carriage looks similar to the No. 4 with two sets of form rollers. Unfortunately, there is no other images and no model number is stated. I’m doubtful there is a model/serial number card in the Vandercook archive for this custom-built press, but I have reached out to NA Graphics owner Fritz Klinke.
In 1942, Vandercook & Sons suspended printing equipment production and was dedicated to manufacturing materials for the U.S. War Department. Before World War II Vandercook was developing a four-color Vandercook for Curtis Publishing, the parent company of The Saturday Evening Post and Ladies Home Journal, among other titles. That work after the war resulting in the No. 604 (1947–57). None of these machines are known to exist, but there are three of the subsequent model the 30-26 (1957–72). Two were owned by the late Greg Walters in Ohio and are now in the possession of the Printing Stewards.