I recently rediscovered what appears to be all that Vandercook put out as a manual for the 317 model. There are several still in use so I scanned the sheet and put it on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53177163@N00/sets/72157639415208743/ and as time permits, I’ll add more material on Vandercooks that I scan from the original Vandercook files and […]
MoreVandercooking on the Left Coast
On Monday, January 6, I will do a slide talk and press walk around at the International Printing Museum in Los Angeles. Then, after a workshop for staff and students at Otis College of Art Design, I fly to SF for a pair of workshop at San Francisco Center for the Book, January 9-12. From there […]
MoreHappy New Year
May your bearers be clean, your rollers be true and your packing be tight Detail from a July 1963 British Printer display ad for Dayco Rubber (U.K.) Ltd. Plant: Cooper & Beatty, Ltd., Toronto.
MoreUniversal-III Power issues
Well I have had a reasonably smooth time with my U-III since 2011. After fixing some initial issues I have been using it at least twice a month for printing everything from business cards to large format linocut posters. It came to me with a braking issue which could be managed with increasing the braking […]
MoreSP 15 Rollers Condition
I bought a SP15 a couple of years ago. The rollers were/are clean and seem to work fine, but they are shiny and quite hard. However, after reading a recent post on Briarpress about cleaning rollers I wonder if mine are glazed and need to be deglazed (or possibly recovered). Certainly, the rollers are not […]
MoreInking issue – Universal 1
Hi everyone, I recently acquired a Universal 1 and have a couple questions related to maintenance. I have been keeping the rollers raised by raising the lever for that purpose when the press is not in use, but wasn’t sure if I also needed to raise the oscillator and a single rider fully away from […]
Moreuniversal 1: core on form roller slipping out of bearing socket
hello! i’ve attached a couple of short videos and images of the problem i’m experiencing as printing today on my universal 1. basically, as the vibrator oscillates, it is actually pulling the core of the front form roller out of its bearing block on the right side, so that the roller is coming in contact […]
MoreReprex II question
I need some feedback please. We use a Reprex II in our studio. During the last class, last 15 minutes the carriage would stop mid travel like it hit a brick. Checked all the usual culprits- something on the gear track, high furniture, bad lock up, etc. Even changed some furniture to make sure none […]
More320G oscillating roller problem
I’ve been having some problems with the oscillating roller on my 320G. It would stop rolling and begin to chatter as the cylinder traveled across the bed. When the cylinder changed direction it would begin to roll normally again. I think this condition was caused by the worm gear and/or crescent. I adjusted the screw […]
MoreOld Style Rider Bushings
Greetings Paul and Vanderbloggers (First post!) I’ve acquired a Vandercook No 3 – OS (green) model. Serial is #9403 (currently registered to a previous owner on the census). While already functional, I am in the midst of typical maintenance/rehab and becoming familiar with this particular model. First issue: This backside rider roller (Part M-123) is loose/large […]
MoreSP-15 roller grinding sound (pictures and video)
I am having trouble fixing this sound. I believe it is being caused by the gear on the inner form roller when it travels over the form roller rack teeth. See the video to hear the sound. This happens in trip or print. Vandercook SP-15 grinding sound (YouTube) Here is a photo of the gear […]
MoreExcello Proof Press
This display ad appeared in most issues of Graphic Arts Monthly, vol. 1, 1929, but does not appear thereafter. Neither was it advertised or mentioned in The Inland Printer or Photo-Engravers Bulletin before, during, or after 1929. (Perhaps, there wasn’t enough interest in this product, and likely Black Tuesday—the infamous crash of the stock market on […]
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