I changed the tympan paper three days ago, and since then my grippers are not functioning properly. When I press the gripper pedal the grippers go up, but when I release the pedal 3 out of 4 grippers remain up, and therefore are not gripping my paper at the feed board. Because I am printing […]
MoreLock-up and Spacing
Although we have worked for years on a 10 x 15 C&P, only recently we have started doing more than cuts and proofing on a Vandercook Model 3. Obviously, there is something we missed given problems we encountered in a recent job. We prepared a form for printing on the Vandercook. This was a 9” […]
MoreWestern 4c push rod and gripper lever
apologies as is virtually identical to Marianne’s, but all good fun posting..you can see where I have had to deal with rust on the carriage sides, maybe I’ll paint them later, just concentrating on getting it mechanically correct at the moment. I will remove the red paint marked from the holes just either side of […]
Morelifting out cylinder Western 4c press
I might? like-should I? to take out/swing out the cylinder to clean the inside faces of the carriage/remove rust etc, it is secured by a bolt each side through carriage side into a block the other side of it on the inner face of the carriage, and the only thing left to do apparently is […]
MoreAligning Vandercook No. 4 Cylinder Carriage
Hello Vanderblog, I am working on getting my recently acquired No. 4 (Serial No. 14509) working and have a couple of questions about how to go about removing the cylinder carriage and getting the gears to line up correctly again. To give you a little backstory, as far as I know, this press belonged to […]
MoreFAG proof press webpage / www.proofpress.ch
Dear Vandercook friends, After consultation with Paul Moxon I am happy to announce that the new FAG proof press platform www.proofpress.ch is online! I’ve been working closely with the archive at FAG Lausanne, Switzerland for more than one year (still in progress…) The webpage is meant to share information about all FAG letterpress cylinder proof […]
MoreFear of damaging press– seeking advice
We have an SP20 and an 18 x 24″ magnetic base. We recently ran a job that required a full flood (with only minor knockouts), flood size 15.5 x 17.5″ We were attempting to minimize the saltiness of the print, so we upped the packing and the ink. Does anyone have guidelines to follow in regards […]
Morepress point-press guides
Gerald Lange refers to press points just less than type high locked up in the bottom of the form to preventpaper slurring on the type for cylinder proofing presses, and Richard Gabriel-Rummonds used point just above type high in the form to assist with registration on Mylar strips on hand press tympans. Well my mate […]
MoreNew press “Value” page added
I’ve created a new—and perhaps overdue—page offering guidance on press value. Note that I am not providing price ranges. While I do some brokering of presses and keep my ear to the ground, I don’t have the time or inclination to tabulate sales and continually update this page. Buyers and seller are best served by doing […]
MoreVandercook Proof Press No.1 for sale
I have a Proof Press No.1, serial #7553 for sale. I am not sure how much it’s worth, so I’m more than happy to discuss and come up with a fair price. I can provide photos if interested. – Jules
Moreroller height on universal I
i am still working on getting my new-to-me universal I refined and printing perfectly, and i’m having a hard time getting the ink roller height correct. i have a gauge to test, and if the vibrator is up / NOT in contact with the rollers, i can get the height correct, but the black knob […]
MoreSP-15 ink roller spring
When I got it, my SP-15 had springs attached to the rear roller(photo attached). I’ve noticed that the tension causes the roller height to decrease rather than helping to hold it steady. There’s no spring shown in the manual & it looks like someone long ago added a bolt that would anchor the end of […]
More