I was wondering what model this Vandercook is? Unfortunately I only have this one picture, but I am trying to figure out if it’s worth buying. Thanks in advance- Leslie
MoreVanderdook SP 15 Letterpress wanted for Nonprofit Arts Center
Or similar letterpress. We need by mid October for an event and will come to you to pick up. Please email details and price or call 520-288-6464 to discuss. Thanks!
MorePacking: What I have, What I need
My Current Packing. Is that an original Vandercook Mylar-Coated Underblanket? Hi All! On to my next newbie question. This is a photo of the current cylinder packing on my SP15, which has a standard .040 undercut. There are four layers: 1. Hanger : A red something that appears to be fabric coated with rubber. 2. […]
MoreHelp! I can’t get this screw out of my SP-15!
Hi All! This screw in the vibrator assembly of my SP-15, a screw which my manual tells me is properly know as the Crescent Holder, is stuck. It has been three days now soaking in alternating baths of WD-40 and PB Blaster, and it still won’t budge. It’s purpose is to insert the Crescent into […]
MoreMoving our SP-15 from a Basement
Hi All! Thanks to great advice obtained here and form the folks on letpress, we successfully moved an SP-15 and a C&P 8×12 this weekend, from a basement location to the shop out back of our house. Key to the process, other than caution and moving slowly and carefully, was the use of a Maasdam […]
MoreVandercook & Company Engravers
Revised. Author and printing historian Stephen O. Saxe sent me this advertisement he found in the June 1890 (and following) issues of The Printers’ Album, the house publication of Schniedewend & Lee, a printing equipment manufacturer in Chicago.* Vandercook & Company was operated by H.R. Vandercook and F.N. Tucker, circa 1880-1910. It was a separate business from […]
MoreWestern “the British” 4c proofing press
Finally- after major refurbishment, which included taking off the plinth bases, de-greasing, de-rusting and painting the underneath-photo of press, yes I know the handle is wrong to the form rollers lifting mechanism I will change it, also photo of the collared bolts that Mick Hopper made for me.
MoreNew Troubleshooting Page
I’ve posted a new troubleshooting page tabulating common presswork problems. Check it out and let me know what needs correcting and what should be added.
More219 OS Sheet Rollers/Fingers
For today’s obscure 219 os question, I’m hoping to have some light shed on the sheet rollers. I’ve never used them and know many people just take them off but I have a project where they may come in handy. You can read about them on page 3 and 4 of this old vandercook sell […]
MoreIn need of accurate Vandercook 3 measurements.
Can someone with a vandercook 3 please send me dimensions of the press WITHOUT the feed board? I need these measurements to determine if the press can fit around an obstacle during an upcoming delivery. The catalog lists the ‘floorspace’ dimension at 6′ 6″ long (not sure if this includes feed board and if not […]
MorePower Inking for SP-15
This past January, we took a three-day letterpress course from Frank Brannon at Bookworks in Asheville, NC. The letterpress bug bit and we bought an SP-15 at auction from Boggs Graphics in Ohio. The press was very clean and in excellent shape, but it had manual inking. After some tries to use the press without […]
MorePrint Quality on SP15 is Terrible!!!! What’s the Matter???
I am frustrated with my print quality on my SP15. I am using photopolymer plates to print personalized note cards with small type. The type is very uncrisp. It looks like the ink is pooling on the edges and bleeding outward, while the inner part of the text has less ink. I just switched to […]
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