This data table lists Vandercook Models 0, 01, 03, and 099 only. Currently, 152 presses are listed (though there are undoubtedly many more yet to be counted).
Often called sign presses or gravity presses, these small proof presses differ from the larger full-featured models in that the impression cylinder rolls solely on the bearers, is not geared, and does not have an inking assembly or a motor.
These presses have a separate serial number series; #0101 was the first office press manufactured in 1929 and #07952 was the first in 1957, after which the production of these models ended. Because of their small size, there are still quite a few of these in letterpress shops.* The serial number is stamped into the bed bearer or in the case of the 099 on the bed.
Please provide the following information:
• model name
• serial number
• owner name
• location
• where or from whom it was acquired (to eliminate duplicate entries)
See also the main census for the larger geared-cylinder models and the serial number tables. To add or correct data, use the Contact Form.
Model | S/N | Year | Owner | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0730 | 1930 | The New Mexico Military Institute | USA NM Roswell | |
0 | 0431 | 1930 | Karen | UK West Berkshire | |
0 | 01158 | 1930 | Maryland Institute College of Art / Dolphin Press | USA MD Baltimore | |
0 | 01175 | 1930 | The Printmaking Center of New Jersey | USA NJ Branchburg | |
0 | 01332 | 1931 | Pyramid Atlantic | USA MD Silver Spring | |
0 | 01436 | 1931 | Robin Eliovson | Australia NSW Kenningston | |
0 | 01722 | 1932 | Benjamin Jones | USA MO Kansas City | Movable register headstop and long side quoin, both adjustable with a wrench |
0 | 01749 | 1932 | Annette Atwood | USA CA Whittier | |
0 | 01865 | 1933 | Bassackward Press | USA CA Fair Oaks | |
0 | 02190 | 1933 | Virginia Center for the Book | USA VA Charlottesville | |
0 | 02443 | 1934 | Private | USA IL Lake Zurich | |
0 | 02520 | 1934 | Western New York Book Arts Center | USA NY Buffalo | |
0 | 06002 | 1941 | Tony Guadagnolo | USA TX Arlington | |
0 | 06037 | 1941 | Pinwheel Press | USA WA Seattle | |
0 | 06088 | 1941 | U. of Oregon | USA OR Eugene | |
0 | 06154 | 1941 | Joe Stoll | USA NY Syracuse | |
0 | 06244 | 1942 | The Rourke Art Gallery + Museum | USA MN Moorhead | Formerly at Kiss Letterpress |
0 | 06274 | 1942 | Big Dog Press/Kathee Kiesselbach | USA AL Daphne | |
0 | 06280 | 1942 | Mara Fulmer | USA MI Atlas | |
0 | 06436 | 1947 | Karen Domenich | USA AZ Tucson | |
0 | 06484 | 1947 | Rare Book School | USA VA Charlottesville | |
0 | 06518 | 1947 | Steven Sharafian | USA WA Bainbridge Island | |
0 | 06567 | 1947 | Delaware College of Art and Design | USA DE Wilmington | |
0 | 06583 | 1947 | Private | USA OK Oklahoma City | |
0 | 06702 | 1947 | Private | USA PA Harrisburg | |
0 | 06731 | 1947 | Cammy York | UA OR Portland | |
0 | 06772 | 1947 | Don Tucker | USA OK Oklahoma City | |
0 | 06898 | 1948 | Jon Raedeke | USA MD Montgomery Village | With Cabinet |
0 | 06929 | 1948 | Wednesday Aja | USA CA Dana Point | Formerly at Overnight Numbering |
0 | 07022 | 1948 | Private | USA AZ Flagstaff | |
0 | 07068 | 1948 | Washington University | USA MO St. Louis | |
0 | 07124 | 1948 | Starshaped Press | USA IL Chicago | |
0 | 07160 | 1949 | Private | USA MA Boston | |
0 | 07253 | 1949 | University of Regina | Canada SK Regina | |
0 | 07269 | 1949 | Private | USA OH Galion | |
0 | 07276 | 1949 | Garvin Sierra | USA PR San Juan | |
0 | 07282 | 1949 | McClain's Printmaking Supplies | USA OR King City | |
0 | 07283 | 1949 | Renegade Cascade Editions | USA WA Olympia | |
0 | 07294 | 1950 | Don Hildred | USA CO LaPorte | |
0 | 07375 | 1950 | Black Stone Press | Canada BC Vancouver | |
0 | 07414 | 1950 | Repeat Press | USA MA Somerville | |
0 | 07470 | 1951 | Heritage Park | Candana AB Calgary | |
0 | 07560 | 1951 | Firecracker Press | USA MO St. Louis | |
0 | 07637 | 1952 | Aron Fay | USA MD Baltimore | |
0 | 07663 | 1952 | Amaranth Press | USA NY Syracuse | |
0 | 07671 | 1952 | Big Wheel Press | USA MA Northampton | |
0 | 07672 | 1952 | October Press | USA KY Lexington | |
0 | 07727 | 1953 | White Dove | USA MN St. Paul | |
0 | 07742 | 1953 | Tom Noyes | USA MN ? | |
0 | 07750 | 1953 | Connie Turnbull | Canada QC Montreal | |
0 | 07756 | 1953 | Steve Sylvester | USA TX Houston | |
0 | 07760 | 1953 | Middle Tennessee State University | USA TN Murfreesboro | |
0 | 07824 | 1954 | Greenboathouse Press | Canada BC Vernon | |
0 | 07836 | 1954 | James Rura / Grandpa's Old Time Press | USA NJ East Windsor | |
0 | 07850 | 1954 | Little Doris Press | USA KS Lawrence | |
0 | 07865 | 1954 | Florida State University | USA FL Tallahassee | |
0 | 07910 | 1955 | John Van Hoorn Co. | USA IL Wonder Lake | |
0 | 07926 | 1956 | Lisa Camp | USA MI Jenison | |
0 | 08023 | 1957 | Inkwell Modern Handmade Boutique & Letterpress Studio | Canada NS Halifax | Formerly at The Nugget newspaper, North Bay, Ontario |
0 | 08090 | 1957 | Athenaeum Art Center | USA CA San Diego | |
0 | 08097 | 1957 | Shakespeare Press Museum | USA CA San Luis Obispo | |
01 | 01077 | 1930 | James Alcorn | USA NY Staten Island | |
01 | 01135 | 1930 | The Arm Letterpress | USA NY Brooklyn | |
01 | 01734 | 1932 | Hamilton wood Type Museum | USA WI Two Rivers | |
01 | 01913 | 1933 | Mary Mortimer | USA CA Oakland | |
01 | 02170 | 1933 | Tom Parsons / Now It's Up to You | USA CO Denver | |
01 | 02521 | 1934 | The New Overbrook Press | USA ME Camden | |
01 | 02785 | 1934 | Barrio Letterpress | USA NY New York City | |
01 | 02902 | 1934 | Igloo Press | USA OH Columbus | |
01 | 02910 | 1934 | Private | USA CO Denver | |
01 | 03132 | 1935 | Bad Luck Monster Club | USA PA Williamsport | |
01 | 03185 | 1935 | Bob Ross | USA TX San Antonio | |
01 | 03462 | 1936 | Typecast Press | USA MD Baltimore | |
01 | 03665 | 1936 | Kalamazoo Baook Arts Center | USA MI Kalamazoo | |
01 | 03671 | 1936 | Public Proof | USA MN Minneapolis | |
01 | 03671 | 1936 | Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts | USA NE Nebraska City | |
01 | 03764 | 1936 | Williams Stationery | USA NY Camden | |
01 | 03846 | 1936 | The Arm Letterpress | USA NY Brooklyn | |
01 | 03855 | 1936 | Private | USA VA Fairfax | |
01 | 03893 | 1936 | Drukwerk in de Marge | Netherlands, Amsterdam | |
01 | 03902 | 1936 | Manchester Press | USA MI Manchester | |
01 | 04045 | 1937 | Littlehouse Press | USA MA Attleboro | |
01 | 04102 | 1937 | Boggs Graphics Equipment | USA OH Chagrin | |
01 | 04486 | 1937 | Hazel & Violet Letterpress | USA AZ Phoenix | |
01 | 04995 | 1939 | Smoke Proof Press | USA CO Boulder | |
01 | 05073 | 1939 | Typebee printshop | USA WA Spokane | |
01 | 05547 | 1940 | Lauren Hirsch | USA KY Louisville | |
01 | 05683 | 1940 | Bill Whitley | USA CO Fort Collins | Formerly owned by Triangle Publishing in Fort Collins. |
01 | 05701 | 1940 | Give-A-Hoot Press | USA NC Swannanoa | |
01 | 05780 | 1941 | Running Dog Press | USA VA Winchester | |
01 | 05785 | 1941 | Curly-haired Press | USA AL Prattville | |
01 | 06052 | 1941 | Wayne State University | USA MI Detroit | |
01 | 06436 | 1947 | Firecracker Press | USA MO St. Louis | |
01 | 0735 | 1930 | Meanwhile Letterpress | USA IL Tolono | |
01 | 0987 | 1930 | Salthouse Press | UK South Wales, Swansea | |
03 | 02086 | 1933 | Peter Bushell/The Auburn Press | USA IL Mahomet | |
03 | 02298 | 1933 | Phil Britton | USA MI Marquette | |
03 | 03260 | 1935 | I Am Here Cards | USA AR Fayetteville | |
03 | 03318 | 1935 | Jim Benvenuto | USA NY Potsdam | |
03 | 04919 | 1938 | Greg Shattenberg | USA ME Auburn | |
03 | 05821 | 1941 | Hicks Bros. | USA CA San Francisco | |
03 | 06109 | 1941 | La Tipogafica | Mexico, Monterrey | |
03 | 03947 | 1937 | Robert Nugent | USA NM Santa Fe | |
099 | 0133 | 1929 | Two Birds Press | USA AL Birmingham | |
099 | 02037 | 1933 | Robert Black | USA NC Asheville | |
099 | 02153 | 1933 | Blackbird Letterpress | USA LA Lafayette | |
099 | 02265 | 1933 | GoWelsh | USA PA Lancaster | |
099 | 02296 | 1933 | SL Korn | USA NY Hudson Valley | |
099 | 02321 | 1933 | Erin McAdams | USA WI Madison | |
099 | 02609 | 1934 | Mills College | USA CA Oakland | |
099 | 02864 | 1934 | Hillside Press | USA CA San Francisco | |
099 | 02874 | 1934 | Kalie McGuirl | USA ME Thomaston | |
099 | 02930 | 1934 | The Bindery | USA WI Milwaukee | |
099 | 02984 | 1935 | Flower City Arts Center | USA NY Rochester | |
099 | 02992 | 1935 | Fox & Found Press | Canada BC Halfmoon Bay | |
099 | 03396 | 1936 | The Attic Press | USA CA Mendocino | |
099 | 03445 | 1936 | Works in Clay | USA IA North Central | |
099 | 03561 | 1936 | Tekst in Druk | The Netherlands, Haarlem | |
099 | 03625 | 1936 | Excelsior Press | USA NJ Frenchtown | |
099 | 03697 | 1936 | Ink Spot | USA MN St. Paul | |
099 | 03703 | 1936 | Ready-Mix Design | USA MA Chicopee | |
099 | 03762 | 1936 | School of Visual Concepts | USA WA Seattle | |
099 | 03884 | 1936 | Two Tone Press | USA MO Kansas City | |
099 | 03970 | 1937 | Burnt Toast Press | USA CA Eureka | |
099 | 04005 | 1937 | Turkey Press | USA CA Isla Vista | |
099 | 04006 | 1937 | International Printing Museum | USA CA Carson | |
099 | 04018 | 1937 | Boggs Graphics Equipment | USA OH Chagrin | |
099 | 04126 | 1937 | Private | USA IL Lake Zurich | |
099 | 04468 | 1937 | Mama's Sauce | USA FL Orlando | |
099 | 04511 | 1937 | Rowdy Titmouse Studio | USA ME —— | |
099 | 04537 | 1938 | Al Holter | USA CA Los Angeles | Formerly owned by Frank Moody, Santa Monica |
099 | 04598 | 1938 | A Revolutionary Press | USA ME Harborside | |
099 | 04715 | 1938 | deco letterpress | USA AZ Prescott | |
099 | 04721 | 1938 | Judy Zeddies | USA IL Chicago | |
099 | 04820 | 1938 | Lauran Marcelis | The Netherlands Haarlem | |
099 | 04850 | 1938 | Private | USA CO Denver | |
099 | 05011 | 1939 | 725 Press | USA NY Farmington | |
099 | 05023 | 1939 | Stiff 'n' Sore Press | Canada ON Stouffville | |
099 | 05064 | 1939 | Hellbendre Press | USA NC Celo | |
099 | 05142 | 1939 | Rar Rar Press | USA IL Chicago | |
099 | 05198 | 1939 | GoWelsh | USA PA Lancaster | |
099 | 05284 | 1939 | Emily Zalla/Lickety Split Press | USA KY Burlington | Originally owned by Armstrong Stationery Co., Cincinnati, OH |
099 | 05303 | 1939 | Matter | USA CO Denver | |
099 | 05313 | 1939 | Matthew Davis | USA KS Overland Park | |
099 | 05613 | 1940 | Wells College | USA NY Aurora | |
099 | 05626 | 1940 | Sally Gardner | USA NY New York City | |
099 | 05723 | 1940 | School of Visual Concepts | USA WA Seattle | |
099 | 05770 | 1941 | Scrabbletown Press / Dorothea Black | USA MA Newtonville | |
099 | 06569 | 1947 | Stan's Print Shop | USA OK Checotah | |
099 | Boekdrukkerij Polka | Netherlands Amsterdam | |||
099 | Het Gonst | Belgium Antwerpen | |||
099 | Private | USA WA Ridgefield |
*Other brands include Challenge, Nolan, Showcard, Sign Press, and Triumph in the US; and Cropper, Farley, Soldan, Stephenson Blake in the UK. The German manufacturer Wittekinde exported its Triumf presses to the US under the name Atlantic.
Acknowledgments
I wish to thank everyone who has shared their Vandercook press data, but especially those individuals who made an extra effort to report multiple other Vandercooks of which they are aware: Nina Ardery, John Barrett, Don Black, Denise Brady, Alex Brooks, Terrence Chouinard, Duncan Dempster, Hans van Eijk, Eric Holub, Jonathan Jarvis, Richard Kegler, Val Lucas, Nicholas Kennedy, Gerald Lange, Val Lucas, Daniel Morris, Ray Nichols, Steve Robinson, Paul Romaine, Michael Russem, Sara Sauers, Beth Seat, Dave Seat, Harold E. Sterne, Bernie Vinzani, Rick von Holdt, Kristin Walker, Bill Whitley, Dan Wood, and of course Fritz Klinke. TablePress plugin by Tobias Bäthge.