I am in the process of buying a Hacker 4 proof press. I’m not new to letterpress printing, but I am new to cylinder presses, and having the manual for this press would really help me learn to use it. Does anyone have a manual, or know where I might find one? Thanks!
MoreCycle Start Issue on Universal 3
A new gremlin has reared its head with my Universal 3, I’m having trouble with the cycle start button. Sometimes when the button is pushed nothing happens, if I hold it down it seems to eventually start the cycle and the time I need to hold it down varies from a second or two to […]
MoreRegistration Problem on a Challenge 15KA
I produce limited edition woodcuts on a 15KA Challenge Proof press and in the middle of a run for some reason the ‘top’ element on the block registers with image on the sheet and the ‘lower’ element on the block is printing 3/16th if an inch off register (lower on the sheet). The distance between […]
More4c Roller Diameter
Hi all, Would anyone be able to confirm that the #4c, made under licence in the UK has the same roller diameter of 2.5″ of the #4? I’m assuming that it does, but thought it best to check before I get them recovered incase they turn out to be wrong. Better safe than sorry!
MoreVandercook #2 Proof Press
I have been cleaning up an old Vandercook #2 Proofing Press and have some question regarding the real rods, packing, and the clamp bars. First, the press has 2 real rods. I assume one is for packing and the other is for a top sheet? Is this for easy change out? Second, I was wondering […]
More“Spring Cleaning”
I thought I’d give my Universal III a good cleaning after it had sat idle for a good deal of the winter while doing some home remodeling. I started out cleaning out the gear racks and noticed that the carriage latch was pretty loose and no spring tension. I pulled it off and found the […]
MoreSP-15 Parts Needed
I am looking for a couple parts for a VandercookSP15. The picture helps illustrate what I need (I hope). I drew arrows to the area in which the assembly is supposed to be. I need the assembly that has a couple screws (those I actually have) and some fiberglass sort of material and metal almost […]
MoreSP-15 Roller Bearing Block-clean?
We have had some trouble lately with roller height issues. On the SP-15, the user turns a knob to raise or lower the rollers. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. The bearing blocks have an allen bolt to hold the roller height, but these will not turn either way. I’m hoping that if we take the […]
MoreNo power cleanup of SP-20
My shop power has gone out and likely won’t be back on until tomorrow. I was in the middle of a job, of course. So now I’m trying to clean up. 1. How can I clean the main ink drum? It won’t move by hand. If I just let the ink dry overnight, can I […]
MoreTalkin Vandercook at the Smithsonian
The Chesapeake chapter of the American Printing History Association is sponsoring a talk I will give at the Smithsonian’s Graphic Arts Collection at 2pm, June 29 in Washington, DC. You … me … and a Uni III AB P … RSVP.
MoreSP-20 drive chain issue
The chain on my SP-20 seems to be getting hung up or caught on something. In the 15-second video above, you can see it catch in the beginning and then towards the end. Is one of the gears failing? I need to run several jobs this week but don’t want to risk snapping the chain. […]
MoreProof Presses in the Wild
The Vandercook census has reached a milestone. There are now 2,000 Vandercook flatbed cylinder proof press still existing worldwide. That’s just 6.6% of the 30,000 presses the company manufactured between 1909 and 1976. To my chagrin, 12% of entries have incomplete data. A few more press that have not been included at their owners request. There are also 73 showcard style office […]
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