Hey everyone, I co-run a community print shop in Saint Louis, MO. We have facilities for letterpress, intaglio, and screen printing. We were recently given a vandercook no. 4 to add to our lettepress equipment. When we showed up to pick up the press, it was being moved out of a basement with a backhoe […]
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SP-15 Ink Drum Issue
I noticed that on our SP-15 the ink drum was not getting any ink on one end of the drum while inking fine on the other end. My suspicion is that the spring has weakened to the point where that end of the drum is lower. Are there other conditions we should look at which […]
MoreRestoring an SP-20 (i.e. hunting for parts)
Hello all – – I had the great fortune of saving an SP20 from the scrapyard earlier this Spring. However, it was not quite as complete as I remembered it being when I first found it last Fall. Someone clearly attempted to dismantle it sometime in its history, then abandoned it, and the only old […]
MoreUniversal II- Cylinder won’t lock at feedboard.
My Universal II has all of a sudden stopped locking when it returns to the feedboard. Therefore when I press the trip pedal nothing happens (grippers don’t move) and it makes a sharp ‘bang’ noise releasing the tension of the pedal… Thoughts? Trip spring? Please help. Thanks, Adrian
MorePower 219 Questions
Admittedly, I have no experience with Vandercook or any other flatbed presses. Currently I run a Windmill, C&P and a Golding Jobber, but am looking to expand in size and versatility. I found a Power 219 for sale and was hoping that someone could give me some pointers on what to look for, and more […]
MoreVandercook Univ. I: spring issues (the part, not the season)
I think I might now what the prob is, but wanted to hear what others think. The spring under the latch that holds the cylinder back and in place that is not the original spring. I faked it with a purchase from a hardware store 7-9 years ago. Well, it seems that its time has […]
MoreNeed for a Vand #3 or #4 Oscillating Assembly
I am trying to restore my Vand #3, and am trying to find EITHER a Vand #3 or #4 Oscillating assembly. Does anybody have this.. or contacts that they might refer me to? Any help would be appreciated! Thank you, Aimee Wilson
MoreNew census added for Vandercook “gravity presses”
The moniker “gravity press” refers to models 0, 01, 03, and 099, a group of small tabletop presses that were the simplest ones Vandercook built. The Impression cylinder rolls on the bearers (with bearings riding on the under rails), but are not geared, and do not have paper grippers, an inking assembly nor a motor. […]
MoreSP-15 won’t trip
I’m having some trouble with my press and I’m wondering if someone out there can help me diagnose the problem. First off, I have a Vandercook SP-15. I purchased it a while ago and just recently got it up and running. I was able to print on it for about 150 impressions when it became […]
MoreSP 15 Trip Spring-variations?
My SP 15 seemed difficult to get into Trip/Print so, after researching similar posts on this site I drew the conclusion that I was missing the flat spring (x23790) and upon inspection, this seemed to be the case. However, now that I have the springs, I am looking at the trip arm assembly and it […]
MoreUniversal I gear and rack wear
I have a question about a Universal I hand press. The problem first became noticeable after setting the rollers to the correct height and printing for a while. The back inking roller gear will sometimes jump off the track when in print mode and make a terrible sound. We were able to replicate the problem […]
MoreSP-15 Wiring help
I recently pulled the electrical box off of my SP-15 and being the clever individual I am I marked all the wires with tape. Unfortunately, as I was cleaning the motor up the tape fell off. I think I have the wiring correct but I want to be sure before I flip the switch and […]
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