Hi, folks. I am writing about a damaged Uni I that I have been working on intermittently over the past 10 months. When the press was shipped to me, it was struck and dragged along the right-hand side of the carrriage. Obviously I’ve learned my lesson where crating is concerned but I cannot for the […]
MoreCategory: Universal series
Adjusting Form Rollers without Gauge
My Uni I came to me without a roller setting gauge. Is it possible to get one, and if so, how? If (as I suspect) they’re vanishingly rare, can you recommend method for setting the height of the form rollovers without one? Thanks!
MoreBargain Uni I on eBay
Saw this press listed on eBay and what a deal! I wonder what the bidding will go up to… http://tinyurl.com/2g96mw Daniel Morris The Arm Letterpress Brooklyn, NY
MoreUniversal III carriage conversion
Chris Manson, proprietor of Crooked Crow Press, in Rockville, Maryland has converted his Universal III Power Vandercook to a hand-cranked press. He had a retired machinist make a collar extension to fit onto the bearing stub on the impression cylinder (photo 3). Onto this new bearing stub Chris attached a crank from a large Poco […]
MoreTaking off a Universal III motor
I need to remove the motor that drives the cylinder on a Vandercook Universal III. I need to have the motor rebuilt. I worked on it a bit today and simply could not figure out how to get it off nor could I figure out how much of I should take to the motor place […]
Moreuniversal I adjustable bed teardown
wanted to point you all to some pictures I took while removing, cleaning, and re-assembling the adjustable bed of my press.click here
MoreUniversal III washup unit
I’ve been told by a lot of people that the Universal III washup unit is useless. But, I want to make mine work. The problem I have is that the scraper blade will run into the automatic inking cylinder and causes damage to the cylinder. Any suggestions. BTW I am looking for a return tray […]
MoreSeeking Frisket Tower for Universal I
I am interested in finding a frisket tower for my Vandercook Universal I. I think a lot of people take these things off, but I like them. Does anyone know of one that might be available for sale? Thanks, Daniel Morris The Arm Letterpress Brooklyn, NY
MoreUniversal I and III Roller Core Changes
On Vandercook Engineering Change #848, dated 8/15/61, the roller cores for these 2 presses were radically changed. We run into these 1961 and earlier presses with the old cores on occasion, and it makes replacing the rollers much easier to know the serial number, or even better, a photo when recovering the rollers or ordering […]
MorePower grippers on Universal Series…
I understand that there is an option for the powered Universal series presses in which the powered grippers would raise and close without having to press on the foot pedal. How is it activated? Where can I find blueprints or technical operating manuals (more detailed) of the Uni presses? Thank you once again!
MoreUniversal I form roller and ink
Hi, I’m currently printing on a friend’s Vandercook Universal One press. However, when the temperature drops in the shop and I have a good amount of ink on the rollers, the back form roller gear appears to miss the teeth in the track and will ride atop of it creating a frightening grinding noise. Neither the gear nor […]
MoreUniversal I grippers and trip mechanism
I have recently taken two Universal I presses out of storage and am getting them going for the first time so, I’ll be making quite a few postings here in the next few weeks. My first question is regarding the gripper assembly. One of my presses is a later model Illinois Tool Works press, serial […]
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