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 […]
MoreCategory: Other Brands
Potter proof press, serial numbers
I have a Potter proof press No. 2. The badge says A. F. Wanner & Co, not Hacker, so maybe an early one. I want to add it to the census but can’t be certain what the serial number is. Below the badge is a small number plate that says PE20. That seems like a […]
MoreChallenge Style 20KP, #5465
Anyone have a date when this might have been made. I cannot find any information for this press. The University I adjunct teach at needs this information for their records. Casey Inky Lips Letterpress
MorePotter Census
I just posted a new census of Potters presses. I’m hoping to figure out the manufacturing history of these machines. Originally Manufactured by A.F. Wanner Co. Chicago, IL., later Potter presses have name plates that say made by Hacker Manufacturing. The 1935 ATF Catalog shows Challenge-Potter and Challenge-Poco presses (pages F-11, F-13).
MoreNeed Potter model ID
I have a Challenge Potter proofing press. I’m not sure of when it was manufactured. Here’s a photo if anyone can possibly identify it.
MoreHacker No. 4 Proof Press
Does anyone know of any surviving examples of the Hacker No. 4 proof press, as pictured in the “Other Brands” link – in museums, private collections, or in use? Thanks, John
MoreChallenge Proof Press Roller Specs
Does anyone know the specs on the form rollers for a Challenge 15MP proof press ?
MoreChallenge 21MP Vibrator Assembly Issues
Hi Folks – I know that I use one of the “knock offs”, a Challenge 21MP (similar to the Vandy SP15), but I’m up poop creek without a plunger. I am calling on the collective wisdom of this group…. I’ve been restoring this press (some rust – lots of gunk) and have run into a […]
MoreClaybourn Proof Press
This photo was sent to me by Amanda Stevenson, Curator at the Museum of Printing History in Houston, Texas who asked me to identify the press in the background. I recognized it as a Claybourn hand proof press made in Milwaukee, Wisconsin circa 1926. There should be a nameplate on the operator’s side and the […]
MoreReprex ll-No impression?
A couple of months back, I took off the gear racks, one side at a time and cleaned off 40 years of ink, grime and paper dust. All are back on in exactly the same position and tightened down with hex head screws. Nothing was dis-assembled from the roller carriage. Now, when the carriage in […]
MoreEdward J. Nolan
Edward J. Nolan (1907-1983) was an RIT-trained engineer who founded both the Nolan Corporation, maker of Nolan proof presses, and later the United States Forge and Foundry Co., the maker of Reprex proof presses. The Nolan Corp., based in Rome, NY, made composing room and bindery equipment for the newspaper industry. They also built food […]
MoreManufacturing date of Reprex Presses
Most of the owners of a Reprex Press have said they can’t find any serial numbers. But if you want to know when yours was made, the date is stamped on the press. The month, year, and day are stamped on the top near the end of the backside rail. See attached photo. I hope […]
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