In 2026, we will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial. To observe this momentous occasion, we invite you to participate in the 2026 nationwide Posterpalooza Collective: UNUM. This is an open call. Come one, come all. Artists are invited to submit letterpress prints on any theme of […]
MoreSP-20 grippers raising on return to feedboard
Yesterday while printing a plate the press started “clanging” about 3 inches away from the feedboard, the grippers rising correspond with the sound. It seems to be louder on the left side of the press, away from the hand crank. While it doesn’t affect the quality of prints, I am worried that something is wrong […]
MoreWarped Trip Rack Replacement
Among the things that can fail on these decades-old presses are the trip racks on early Vandercook Universal Is (before s/n 24219). These machines have the X-14854 Trip Rack with (2) 7/8″ diameter bushings, meaning wide slots and narrow side walls relative to the width of the rack, which can warp and eventually prevent carriage […]
MoreHow do I update my email address, and where do I order the long awaited Vandercook Manual 4th edition?
MoreVandercook Universal III Power—The slowdown
I acquired a Vandercook Universal III P AB with tower and power in 2019 when I moved to Rochester, NY. The press came with original paperwork from 1970 and was kept in pretty great condition all around. We used the press to print covers for the P22 chapbook series in quantities of 1500 (2-color.) This […]
MoreLever that holds the top rollers up loose
The top rollers fell on my hand while I was cleaning the rollers the other day because the lever latch (image below) that holds them the oscillator in place when up is loose and does not always click in place. Could someone advise how I go about stabilizing it? Many thanks!
More4th Edition of Vandercook Presses: Maintenance, History and Resources Now Available
The essential Vandercook proof press repair manual, based on the author’s workshop, featuring over 400 drawings, photographs, and data tables. With notes on significant models and other brands, bibliography, and index. 7¼ × 10″, 230 pp, letterpress printed cover, and twin loop wire binding. Order
MoreVandercook 4 cornucopia of press noises – rider roller and belt issues maybe?
One of the rider rollers on my Vandercook 4 is loose, rattles when the press is running and seems to be inking slightly unevenly as a result. I can’t find anything in the manual about a part that may be missing or broken, does the rider roller use nyliners also? The motor is pretty loud […]
MoreA Two-color Vandercook‽
Just when I thought there wasn’t much more to be learned about Vandercook history, I saw this circa 1943, full-page display ad in a trade journal on ebay for a ink manufacturer touting their two-color Vandercook. The running footer on the back of this page reads “Packaging Catalog” (WorldCat). The carriage looks similar to the […]
Morerollers + inconsistent inking
Hi Paul, Thank you so much for your help earlier this year with replacing our Vandercook [SP20] trip switch [springs]. I have run into another issue that is raising some questions now and I thought you may be a good person to ask. Our ink rollers work great some of the time and there are […]
MoreNo. 4 carriage latch spring in pieces :'( … looking for replacement
Hello! One of our No. 4s has a shattered X-10161 spring causing the carriage to not catch on its return to the feed board. The spring holds up the carriage latch (?) that the carriage needs to catch. I attached photos of the broken spring, an identical intact one on our other No.4, and the […]
MoreVandercook SP20 primary roller isn’t level
I noticed the primary roller of our SP20 was only making partial contact with the form rollers resulting in uneven inking. It seems to be slightly uneven with the operator side going lower. I already tried adjusting the form rollers but that didn’t work. How would we fix this issue?
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