May your bearers be clean, your rollers be true and your packing be tight Detail from a July 1963 British Printer display ad for Dayco Rubber (U.K.) Ltd. Plant: Cooper & Beatty, Ltd., Toronto.
MoreMore TagAuthor: Paul Moxon, Moderator
Excello Proof Press
This display ad appeared in most issues of Graphic Arts Monthly, vol. 1, 1929, but does not appear thereafter. Neither was it advertised or mentioned in The Inland Printer or Photo-Engravers Bulletin before, during or after 1929. (Perhaps, the there wasn’t enough interest in this product, and likely Black Tuesday—the infamous crash of the stock market on […]
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MoreMore TagTwo Early Custom Vandercooks
Here are two very large proof presses specially designed by R.O. Vandercook, and built by Chicago machinists Reichel & Drews, circa 1912–14. While neither press is known to exist today, they demonstrate that Vandercook was able to satisfy specific client requests early in his career as a manufacturer. The illustration at left, accompanying an article in the June […]
MoreMore TagNew Printing History Website
The American Printing History Association is pleased to announce its new website. In addition to being a resource for APHA members, it features articles by experts and enthusiasts of interest to the printing history community at large. Visitors will find that it’s responsive to all devices. Yours truly is editor in chief and welcomes 300–500 word […]
MoreMore TagThe Lost Vandercook House Organ
Recently, I completed a fellowship at the Newberry Library in support of research for the second edition of my book Vandercook Presses: Maintenance, History and Resources (2011). While there, I spent most of my time perusing various trade journals including The Inland Printer, Photo-engravers Bulletin, Graphic Arts Monthly and British Printer, among others, spanning 1909–1976. As I sort out my findings, I […]
MoreMore TagThis is not a lollipop
A vintage roller setting gauge is being offered on ebay. I do not recommend bidding on it for two reasons: 1) a used gauge will most likely have a flat spot and so is no longer .918″ high and would therefore provide a false reading as to correct roller height; 2) at $39.95 the price […]
MoreMore TagRoad Trip
I’m planning to drive to the Ladies of Letterpress conference in Mt Pleasant IA in June 27-29. My route will put me on I-55 from Jackson MS through Memphis and near St Louis. If anyone is interested in my making a Vandercook service call along the way, send me a message via the contact page.
MoreMore TagA Nice Bit of Provenance
Last weekend I did three workshops for Slugfest Printmaking Workshop in Austin, Texas (a great book arts town). This came about because I facilitated their recent purchase of the SP20 for sale by Henry Morris of Bird & Bull Press. One of the principals, Tom Druecker, showed me Henry’s wonderful note about the press that is […]
MoreMore TagL.W. Claybourn
Leslie William “Lex” Claybourn (1883–1956) was a printing process pioneer who was issued over 200 U.S. patents. Like Horace Hacker and R.O. Vandercook, Claybourn worked to improve photoengraving and process plates and to reduce makeready. In 1921, he established Claybourn Process Corp. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which made, among other machines, a multicolor press that printed […]
MoreMore TagModerator’s News
I want to share two recent developments in my professional life that may be of interest to Vanderblog readers. First, I’m pleased to share that I have been awarded a short-term fellowship at the Newberry Library in Chicago. I will study its collection of printing trade journals as one of my efforts to expand a […]
MoreMore TagVanderpurge circa 1965
When folks lament that there are no replacement parts for their ancient press, there’s a reason. Fritz Klinke, owner of NA Graphics and the Vandercook archives, sent me this jpeg showing a Vandercook Engineering Change Order for the 325 series. “This particular change order is about nine pages long, and includes other models. I just grabbed that one and […]
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