Hello. I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Kelly Shields and I am an high school art teacher. I am also one of those “enthusiastic newer printers who are learning letterpress printing and keeping it alive and well.” I have been a silent observer of this site for several years, and have just recently […]
MoreCategory: No. 4 / 215
Questions about clutch plate, oil holes and automatic gripper release
Hey guys, first of all, I’m sorry about the many posts lately, but I’m trying to make real progress and have my no. 4 working by the end of the year, which is almost here, anyways. So I’m getting up to speed. First question: Are these wear marks on the clutch plate going to affect […]
MoreTrip/Print diagram
Hello everyone, I’m looking for a clearer trip-print lever system diagram or blueprint than the one in the manual. My no. 4 was pretty complete parts-wise, besides a few knobs and bumper springs, but one thing I noticed at the beginning was that the trip-print lever mechanism was “disengaged” and wouldn’t do a thing. I […]
MoreUnknown spring
This spring came with my No. 4 in the miscellaneous parts in one of the drawers. At first I thought it was a bumper spring (because I am indeed missing the two far side of the bed bumper springs), but then I compared it to the feed table side bumper springs, and it’s definitely not […]
More1953 Vandercook No. 4 Proof Press (serial #16261) for sale in Charlotte, NC [SOLD!]
1953 Vandercook No. 4 Proof Press (serial #16261) for sale in Charlotte, NC. Originally purchased in great shape from Don Black Linecasting in December 2003 and operated from 2004-2007 for printing short run wedding invitations and has been held in covered storage from 2007 until present. The press is in good/great shape with just a […]
MoreWestern 4c push rod and gripper lever
apologies as is virtually identical to Marianne’s, but all good fun posting..you can see where I have had to deal with rust on the carriage sides, maybe I’ll paint them later, just concentrating on getting it mechanically correct at the moment. I will remove the red paint marked from the holes just either side of […]
MoreAligning Vandercook No. 4 Cylinder Carriage
Hello Vanderblog, I am working on getting my recently acquired No. 4 (Serial No. 14509) working and have a couple of questions about how to go about removing the cylinder carriage and getting the gears to line up correctly again. To give you a little backstory, as far as I know, this press belonged to […]
MoreWestern proofing press
Just taken delivery of a Western “The British” 4C, going through it all to check it out.got to derust the underneath and paint it yet, and work out how to lift out? rotate? the cylinder to clean all the surfaces etc. Here are 2 photos of it, here is another photo of the ink drum […]
MoreVandercook #4 Foot Pedal Problems
Hello. I’m afraid that I’m having issues with my Vandercook No. 4 (Model 14186). I’ve looked and looked, but something isn’t connecting properly anymore to make the paper grippers raise when the foot pedal is pressed. When the pedal is pressed the bumper block is bumping out about 1/8″ when not in connection with the […]
MoreNo 4 Motor Vibrations
Help! – our No 4 sounds like a freight train and can be heard two floors up. Thinking the sound was possibly coming from the ink drum or chain, I removed the belt that connects the motor to the gear box, but no luck. The motor itself is quite (I disconnected it from the press […]
MoreReel rod
Is it possible to remove the reel rod on the No. 4 ? I want to get in there real good with a brush, it’s nasty in there. I found two hex nuts and tried both ways but couldn’t get it out. I also unscrewed the ratchet but I can’t see how the reel rod […]
MoreLimit vibrator movement for split fountain work
I was wondering if there’s any safe way to limit the amount the vibrator oscillates on the Vandercook 4? It’s for a business card logo about an inch wide… Thank you.
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