As the process of getting to know the press continues to unfold, I’ve been putting together some notes on various discoveries & lessons learned. This post is concerned with adjusting the height of ink rollers. While these notes may appear overkill for a relatively simple process, some may be as ignorant as I was about […]
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Universal III toggle base (usefulness for photopolymer)
I have two Vandercook Universal III toggle plate bases with all the toggles and tools and was wondering if I’d be able to use them with photopolymer plates. It seems to me that with metal backed photopolymer plates they might work were it not for the fact that the toggles themselves would print. Are the […]
MorePressure Ink Well
*Was: Unknown device on SP-15…* changed for archiving purposes What is the component you see sticking up on the back corner of the paper feed board? I never see it on any of the posted photos. This image is of an SP-15.
MoreAutomatic frisket…
I recently bought a Universal III with the automatic frisket / paper delivery option. I’m looking for information about the automatic frisket part. What would cause you to use a frisket versus the cloth tapes which is the only thing I’ve ever seen being used? What do you use for the frisket material?
Morecylinder gear tooth alignment
After reading the previous discussion about a misaligned cylinder causing the grippers to smash the form, I thought about the SP20 I’m currently going over (and on which we have not yet printed) and noted that when I received it, the gripper bar was not at 12 oclock when the cylinder was home at the […]
MoreVandercook 4 problem
I have printed a couple of projects on a Vandercook 4 that a friend recently purchased. I have had to put 4.5 picas of furniture in back of the deadline bar because if I were to put type or engraving at the deadline bar (without the furniture) it would smash. With the furniture in, this […]
MoreGrippers snap closed when cylinder is at feed board…
I am trying to work out the quirks in one of my 320G presses and the thing that is bothering me the most is that the grippers are closing when the cylinder reaches the feed board. The gripper pedal won’t open them at this point. The gripper bar stops at the proper vertical orientation, but […]
MoreNo. 4 Manual
Does anyone have access to a Vandercook proof press #4 operations manual or some such directions on the press’s operation. Also who is a good supplier for photopolymer plates for this press? Thanks, Bosco Bob
MoreNew Owner
I am a new member of this blog and not very savy in the digital realm. I have come into the care of a VC # 3 with the serial # 8126. I am completely flumoxed by the very thorough cross referenced numbers and dates that Paul has collected. I hope to find the manufactured […]
MoreVandercook Grey Paint
I am preparing to repaint one of my Universal IIIs and am trying to come up with a suitable paint that I can apply without having to haul it to a painter. On letpress Greg Fischer suggested brush painting with Rust-Oleum Professional High-Performance Enamel “Smoke Gray”, but I would prefer to use spray cans in […]
MoreNo.4 Cylinder Engineering Print
Fritz sent me this drawing of a No.4 cylinder showing its position at the feed board. It is posted for the benefit of Klu, and other tenacious individuals who dare to restore long-abandoned presses from which lesser mortals would have walked away. –PM The excerpt below was originally posted 10-11-06 by Paul Moxon on “PPL”:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PPLetterpress […]
MoreManual for Uni I (#20234)
A few years back, a manual was ordered by Mass Art (where I teach) for our Universal I. When I opened it to find the part number for the spring plunger, I could not find the part. Our Uni I is an earlier model from what I can tell from the serial number chart. Do […]
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