We are cleaning up a newly acquired UNI IIIP, and have noticed something which is disturbing. Under the register rack (X-2831), is a shim that looks approximately 2pts thick and resides nearest the feed table. A smaller shim is at the end nearest the floating rack. We are assuming that these have been put in place to solve a […]
MorePrinting forms over type high
This question comes via email: Q: Is the Vandercook letterpress capable of printing forms larger than type high? I have a woodblock that I’ve carved, and it is about 1/8″ higher than the type. A: It is possible only if you have a press equipped with an adjustable bed (e.g: 219 AB, 15-21, Universal I […]
MoreSP-15 Trip/Print blocked
We’ve been working on cleaning up our SP-15 in the new UAFS Letterpress Shop. I took the motor cover off to clean a large pile of old ink next to the drum roller. After putting everything back in place, now the Trip/Print lever is stuck in PRINT. Doesn’t matter if the cylinder is in home […]
MoreRegistering deckle-edge paper…
We were printing a wedding invitation on Somerset paper on a Vandercook Universal III. The invitation is 22″ wide and has the deckle at both ends. The only thing I did special to start was that I added a second paper registration down the long edge of the paper to make sure it was fed […]
MoreWash up unit
Hey, I got a general question about the use of the washup unit. I just got an unused orignal nylonblade for the washup unit of my “FAG Control 405”. Until now I didn’t use the washup unit, since the old blade was broken. I print around 500–1500 proofs a week, sometimes with alot of colour […]
MoreAsbern AD-1
Hello Vanderpeople, I recently acquired a Asbern Ad-1 proofing press, unfortunately the power inking assembly has been long removed. Looking either for a scrap asbern or inking assembly, if one exists or specs on replicating the assembly. Any advice helps. serial# 8038 ADR-1 -keegan
MoreSequence of printing events…
I’m wondering if the following sequence of events seems unreasonable to get a very, very clean print on a Universal III. The project is an important certificate for a major university signed by the president and all. This is essentially for the text part of the certificate, not including the recipient’s name. Printing area is […]
MoreNo. 4 squeak
Our #4 has a squeak that appears to be coming from the ink drum. In attempting to find the source of the squeak, we have noticed the ink drum is VERY close to the operator side of the press(less than an ink knife blade). I did a little careful cleaning with a utility blade and […]
MoreCleaning up a #3
Hello Vanderfolks. I am in the process of finally getting my old #3 up and running again. A lot of dust, dirt, a little rust and the paper clasp pins don’t open. Looks like I have mostly cleaning and lubricating to do. My question is really simple. For those of you who have been through […]
MoreI locked up my Uni I
I was running some small posters yesterday on my Uni I AB. Things were going smoothly until the powered carriage was moving towards the end of the bed and got stuck midway. It just stopped. I run it pretty slowly so it wasn’t a very sudden stop it just was rolling along and then wasn’t. […]
MoreVandercook manual / sign typeface?
Apologies if this has been discussed before, but does anyone know the typeface(s) used on the Vandercook manual, or on the identification sign / tag on the press? I have a 1962 SP-15. I want to guess it’s something like Gill Sans or a popular modern font of the time, but perhaps they had their […]
MoreSP-15 Form Roller Imbalance
Hello Vanderfriends, Would love some to get some thoughts on a roller issue. First I should mention that I am working with new rollers and a press that is new to me so I unfortunately don’t have a frame of reference for past performance. I’m experiencing an imbalance with noticeably heavier ink coverage on one […]
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