I just adjusted my cylinder bearings with great care and find that now the rail sweepers, the cow-pusher things that are meant to keep the rails clean, are dragging. Should I adjust these or just remove them? Any advice?
MoreSP-15 Form roller gear height
Dear friends, The print co-op I belong to recently had the form rollers for our SP-15 recovered by Pamarco. After reinstallation, I adjusted both roller heights to achieve proper strike on the roller gauge. When the rear form roller is set to a proper height, the roller gear skips along the gear rack, barely making contact. When I […]
MoreSeeking a M-134 Feed Roller Frame Assembly for a No. 3
I have a Vandercook No. 3, the same one (SN 13165) here, that’s missing its M-134 feed roller frame assembly. I’m looking to first see if anyone has a spare (which I imagine is unlikely). Or if anyone has fabricated an alternative to the stock feed roller. I’ve also looked into Paul’s suggestion here but the sprockets […]
MoreUniversal Problem
I am having a problem with a roller on my Universal. The roller closest to the feed board is binding and can’t be removed. The offending area is opposite the press operator. We can not move the carriage and the roller is not spinning. We believe that a screw has worked loose and is not […]
MoreReplacement switch for an SP-15
Hi everyone, I’m looking for a replacement electrical switch for an SP-15. Any ideas if there is a replacement switch out there I can drop in there?
MoreOS Side Guide Parts Needed
I’m looking for missing parts for an old style side guide (for my No. 3). It’s not an immediate need, as the press is disassembled for cleaning, but I would like to try and use this one (when completed) if at all possible. I know Fritz has a new side guide available, so if I can’t […]
MoreChallenge M Series Worm Gear Fabrication
I am having a new worm gear and crescent fabricated for a Challenge M series press.* I intend to have a couple of extra sets made. The cost per set will be $1,150 with free shipping within the US and Canada. This is less than having a one-off made. The Challenge census lists forty-one 15MA/MP and four 21MP. The gear […]
MoreHacker #4 Restoration
I have completed the restoration on this Hacker #4. Here is the history as I know it: 1. The press was purchased 1/31/1929.( A date on the bed said Apr. 12. I assume 1928) The company that bought it was Grey Ketterer & Hansen, Inc. It was later sold to Columbus Engraving Corp. 2. The […]
MoreUniversal I Under Rails Rebuild
Hatch Show Print, with the help of the venerable Dave Seat, had rebuilt the worn out under rails on their hand-cranked Vandercook Universal I. Worn out under rails yield uneven impression and the inability to maintain registration. Wear is caused by excessive pressure due to these conditions: 1) an unleveled press; 2) grime buildup on the cylinder bearers, bed bearers, […]
MoreCounter for Universal I
Can I a retrofit a counter on my Universal I? If so, where are they available and did all V’s originally have one? Thanks, Neil
MoreNew Gripper Bar
We made or first Vandercook gripper bar assembly from scratch for a Universal I. The press had lost its bar somewhere, and to get it back into operation, we had to get this one made. This is for the first version of the Universal I press and is basically the same as used on the […]
MoreAsbern ADR-1 Oscillator
In June, I tuned-up a Challenge 21MP for Andrew Huot at Big River Bindery in Davenport, Iowa. He also has an Asbern ADR-1 that had a gummed up oscillator. I hadn’t serviced one before, so this was a great opportunity to see what it’s innards look like. The main difference is the crescent is set into a collar that […]
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