Well, after 25 years of printing on Vandercooks, I encountered a new problem today. There is a 1/2″ strip across the whole sheet that is not printing with the correct impression. It is illogical, but it seems that the carriage raises up just for that line of type and then goes back down. The press is […]
MoreUniversal III Gripper Assembly Cleaning
Hi–I’ve taken apart the gripper assembly to give it a good cleaning. In the past I’ve used Simple Green to soak everything and loosen the grime and then used a toothbrush to get in all the nooks and crannies, etc. Graphite to lubricate and then I put it all together again. BUT this time, I’m […]
More#4 Light Bulb?
Does anyone happen to know the specification for the Vandercook #4 power ON light bulb? I’ll use the trial/error method, but I thought I’d ask here. Thanks! Matt
MoreImage Stretching Issue
I’m trying to get familiar with the use of my Vandercook 3, and doing a lot of troubleshooting and question asking. I’ve made a couple of reduction prints on it so far (using lino blocks mounted to MDF and adjusted to type high with paper sheets as I look for a galley height bed plate) […]
MoreSP15 Ink Drum Adjustment
Setting stripe ink drum to form on SP-15. How thick a stripe? And, any easy way to adjust (besides raising and lowering the drum/motor cradle (?) stop foot? It’s not an easy adjustment… loosening two bolts while pressing down on drum, micro-adjusting, then tightening (only to see I went too far). Better solution?
MoreLooking for advice. Part 2: Uni III(ab) paper guide crooked(?)
Hello again! So in the process of getting back in the saddle I also noticed another quirk on my Universal III. I’m not sure if it is a problem per se or if the problem is just me… I noticed that all the prints I have been pulling are consistently cocked out of square a […]
MoreLooking for advice. Part 1: Uni III(ab) form roller tilted
I have recently begun to produce work on my Uni III after a long hiatus, and have run into a couple of vexing issues. Firstly, I realized that the rear form roller was laying down ink only on the side opposite from operator. The roller will not adjust low enough on the operator side (the […]
MoreNolan 2 Inker Proof Press
I am looking for information about a Nolan 2 inker proof press so I can order new rollers. I own a weekly newspaper and print shop. (It has been in business since 1914, and been in our family since 1932). I have numerous type high cuts that I would like to reproduce.
MoreUniversal III form roller gear issue (again!)
I’ve had this issue before and I can’t remember how I fixed it. When I started printing today, there is this noise that is coming from (I believe) from the rear form roller gear not being in the correct position on the core. You can hear it just as the cylinder leaves the feed board. […]
MoreDesperately seeking a solution to a mystery (Cylinder Jamming)
I have a Vandercook 219. Not sure but I think NS (1957). It prints like a dream, or did until this afternoon. The rolling cylinder suddenly started to hang up about 3 inches into the forme. So the first few inches of the forme prints, but then the cylinder meets profound resistance, as if something […]
MoreRainbow rollers (Universal III)
I want to be able to print multiple colors at once without the rollers moving so much back and forth to muddle the colors together. I know there’s a way to do this by taking something out….the crescent I think? I’m just not sure how to do that or where it is…..
MorePrinting with a deckle edge (Universal III)
I’m pretty sure i know the answer to this but……. I have this very beautiful paper that I want to print on and it has a deckle edge. Are there any tips or tricks to get it to print straight? It comes pre sized in certain sizes with the deckle edge, so there is nothing […]
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