Yup, lucky me! I found one in a tin barn in the northern Catskills. It needs some love, but after half a day with penetrating oil, Simple Green, scotch pads, wire brushes and q-tips, etc., the drum turns over and the motor whirs; the press is level and the bed is clean. The belt for […]
MoreWater based inks on a Vandercook?
Anyone have experience using water based inks on a vandercook? I’ve used oil based for my prints for over 20 years now but am curious about water based mainly to speed up my dry times between colors. Ive ordered some sample sizes of Graphic Chemicals water soluble relief ink line to experiment with myself but […]
MoreVandercook No 4 cylinder alignment
The cylinder check spring broke on our No. 4. I got a replacement spring from Fritz and the press is printing again. My question is concerning the position of the cylinder at the feed table. With the cylinder at the feed table, the grippers are at about the 12 o’clock position (just a little before […]
MoreFoot Pedal Chain, Linkage Problem
Hello all, I’m having issues with the foot pedal. A screw on the underside of the bumper fell to the floor causing the carriage not to go all the way back to the inking drum unless we pushed the spring back. It seems like there is too much slack in the chain and nothing is lifting the […]
MoreTraveling Sheet Delivery Tray
Hi Everyone, I’m looking to add a traveling sheet delivery tray to my Vandercook 4. Is there any specification(s) available that I could use to fabricate with? Or general thoughts on this as I setforth? Thanks! Matt
MoreRe-assembly and conversion (to manual) of Universal II (power carriage)
Hello printers, An alumnus has just donated a Vandercook to our university; after saying, “sure, we could use another”, I learned that it is a Universal II power carriage w/ adjustable bed and that owing to the weight of the press, moving it from its former home (the second story of a barn) required dissassembly. […]
MoreThe Printers’ Album
The Printers’ Album was the house organ of the Challenge Machinery Company. It featured articles on the business of printing, equipment manufacturing, production tips and tricks, and display ads for Challenge products. The five covers that are shown here from 1925–26 are among the best and illustrate some of their manufacturing processes. The magazine began […]
MoreSP20, Roller Rack
Hi, I have been helping a friend with cleaning and readjusting his SP20. Now that we’re almost done the moveable end of the roller rack seems to be sticking a bit too far up. The press hasn’t been used for probably something like 20 years… So hard to tell why that is. Anyway, the spring […]
MoreSP15 replacement feedboard and side guide
I’ve recently started up a community workshop in Traverse City, MI – Blackbird Book Arts & Press. We’re getting off the ground with a Pilot clone, 8×12 C&P and this slightly ragged SP15. It came to us out of Indiana without rollers, feed board and brackets to mount it so with a little ingenuity and […]
MoreReprex 1 Manual
I have a Reprex 1 proof press that has a broken trip/print mechanism and need a manual for direction in fixing it or at least that would provide a picture of what it should look like and how it works. Also, the tray that captures all the ink under the drum is filled with hardened […]
MoreVandercook No. 3 Distribution Roller Bushings?
Hello vanderblogers… It appears that I had a bushing blow out on my No. 3 distribution roller. is there a replacement part for this? and any ideas how hard it might be to change? To get the pins that hold the roller cores in, do they push up or down to get out? Thanks […]
MoreModel 4 Bottom Frame Assy Tie Rods
I have a pair of Tie Rods salvaged from a No. 4. The Bottom Frame Assy drawing denotes the Front Tie Rod as p/n MR-104 and the Rear Tie Rod as p/n MR-105; the Front one appears longer. The two parts I have are identical, with the length being 21-7/8″. On my own No. 4, the […]
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