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 […]
MoreCategory: SP series
Restoring 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
MoreSP-15 new rollers/image problems
I just replaced the rollers on my SP-15 and am having trouble printing the first time out. The rollers were purchased from another press owner, but were new and unused, still in original NA Graphics packing and boxes. This was the first time I’d changed the rollers but didn’t encounter any difficulties with changing over […]
MoreSP 15 Carriage Side Panel removal
Hello all, I recently purchased an SP 15 and am finally getting around to cleaning/restoring it to printing condition. In the process I came across what appears to be a broken trip spring. Since the gears and trip mechanisms were an inky, greasy disaster I decided to pull the side plates and give it a […]
MoreInking roller squeal
Yesterday morning we had a rather strange experience with our Vandercook SP-15. It was about noon and the studio was just starting to warm up. Temperature was maybe 50 degrees when we started the heater. After a bit we inked the press to print some notecards and what I think was the vibrator roller (pretty […]
MoreSP-15 roller height problems
I have a couple of questions regarding roller adjustment on my SP-15. Recently when checking the roller height, I discovered that the ink stripe on the gauge was about twice as thick in the middle of both rollers than on the ends, leading me to think that the rollers are for some reason slightly sagging […]
MoreSleepless in Savannah
Hello. I have been searching tirelessly for a Vandercook Proof Press (preferably #3 or #4, Universal or SP) in working condition to purchase for use in a printing job I am working on. I would greatly appreciate and advice or suggestions that I can get to help me find one. Thank you.
MoreSP15 Cylinder Carriage–jammed!
Hello! I’m new to the wild world of Vandercook ownership…and am hesitant to take apart the cylinder without first getting advice. Here are the details: (1) I bought the press a little over a month ago, and noticed that the carriage was getting hung up (as if it had to scale a small hill) about […]
MoreRubber feet pads
In the Vandercook sp-15 manual it states the press should be set on synthetic rubber pads – with packing in order to correct any unevenness. Does anyone use these pads, if so what are they like – their depth for example – I can envisage something like a mouse mat. John Christopher
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