Today’s Vandercook operators may know that most models were designed to meet the needs of the bygone photoengraving industry. A central figure of that industry was the German-born American Louis Flader (1877-1963): technician, labor leader, executive and author. As editor of Photo-Engravers Bulletin he wrote the articles “Story of a Visit to the New Vandercook […]
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Maintenance page added
As a companion to the Glossary, I’ve created a new Maintenance page, which suggests routine maintenance for common Vandercook models. Check it out and let me know what needs correcting and what should be added.
MoreGlossary page added
I’ve created a new Glossary page defining mechanical terms for newbies. It doesn’t include common terms covered in operator manuals or letterpress instruction books. Check it out and let me know what needs correcting and what should be added.
MoreOrigin of the modern proof press reconsidered
While looking for information on proof presses built by Harrild & Sons, better known for its iron hand presses, I asked Stephen O. Saxe, author of American Iron Hand Presses, what he knew about this British firm. In reply he scanned this page from a 1906 Harrild catalog, shown at left. This press features a […]
MoreD.D. Vandercook
Revised. David Dodge Vandercook (1901-1975) was Vice President of Engineering and Board Secretary and the second son of founder R.O. Vandercook. His name appears on 16 U.S. patents, sometimes with his father and brothers or key employees. D.D. Vandercook’s knowledge of engineering was self-taught. Too young to serve in WWI, he had to work to […]
MoreF.R. Vandercook
This day in 1903 saw the birth of Frederick Robert Vandercook. The youngest son of company founder R.O. Vandercook, he was CFO when it was sold to Illinois Tool Works in 1968. Little is known about F.R. Vandercook, his name appears on nine U.S. patents, but he seems to have not written for publication. Longtime […]
MoreCentenary Bundle Exhibited in South Africa
Bundle contributors Mark Sandham and Kalle Pihlajasaari have organized an exhibition of the Vandercook Centenary Print Bundle at the University of Witwatersrand Library, Johannesburg, South Africa. This is the first exhibition of the bundle outside of the United States. Exhibition details and a catalogue in PDF are available at: www.letterpress.co.za/news/vandercook.
MoreDiscount on “Typeface” DVD
Kartemquin Films would like to offer the Vandercook Press community 15% off the purchase price of the limited-edition Typeface DVD at www.kartemquin.com during the month of July. (I post this message as a supporter of the Hamilton Wood Type Museum.) The DVD includes a free wood type letterpress poster designed by Bill Moran, Artistic Director […]
MoreE.O. Vandercook’s grandson reminisces
Today, I received an email from Kurt Vandercook Osenbaugh, a grandson of Vandercook & Sons President Edward O. Vandercook who shared some interesting family anecdotes. He says his grandfather’s middle name reflects a relation to “the Oatman girls,” two girls who were captured by [Yavapai] Indians in 1851. “One died in captivity, the other escaped, […]
MoreNA Graphics adds “Press Sales” page
NA Graphics has added a new page on its website to list presses for sale. This is one more resource for acquiring your own press. See also the Links page on the present site for other companies and individuals selling equipment.
MorePatent Pages Premier
Terry Chouinard sent me this advertisement he saw in the BBS Specimen Book (No. 25) for a “Vandercook Gordon Press Vibrator.” He asked if Vandercook made any other equipment for production presses? Good question. After all, their presses were marketed as pre-press equipment. But nothing in the catalogs I’ve seen references anything like the Gordon […]
MoreHand gripper redux
Goudy said: “The old fellows stole all our best ideas.” Proving it again is this No.4 with a custom-made hand activated gripper bar, similar to the idea for a No.3 discussed on this forum Summer ’08 (archive links here and here). The pedal and chain linkage are still intact, but don’t work, I was curious […]
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