I recently got an SP 15 and the motor was noisy when running so I checked and no lubricant and added some, less noisy but still makes noise. Seemed like the angle of armiture the motor sits on affects sound so I fiddled with tightening and loosening the bolts on side of carriage to change […]
MoreCentenary Print Bundle Arrived!
Delighted to come home to a package full of Vandercook prints tonight! As fun as looking through the online gallery had been, it is nothing compared to the real thing. Fascinating diversity of techniques and approaches. Kudos to all the participants and thanks to Paul and his boundless energy to make this happen.
MorePapercraft Vandy
The Fall issue (mid November) of Ampersand, the quarterly journal of the Pacific Center for Book Arts, will feature a papercraft Universal I to celebrate the Vandercook Centenary. Designed by Shirley Edwards and printed at Logos Graphics in San Francisco. More photos at Lars K. Flickr site. This nicely complements Kyle Van Horn’s papercraft SP20.
MoreUni-I Roller Gear Question
Hi Folks, I have a question about the roller-gear for a Universal-I. I recently purchased a pair of new cores/rollers for a Uni-I. However, when they arrived I noticed the new cores are different from the existing cores/rollers, and thus the old roller-gear cannot fit to the new cores. The old core is hollow and […]
MoreEarly Vandercook No. 21
Would like to know if anyone as a similar press. I am ready to get the rollers recasted and i am a bit anxious about the proper diameter. My guess is 2 1/4 or 2 1/2. The carriage set at the lowest setting is approx.: 1.9375 (height from the bed to the middle of the […]
MoreModel 25 inking carriage
NEW CONTENT AT BOTTOM The problem I am having is that I can not see how to remove the distributor frame. It is wider than the frame which holds the mechanism to raise and lower the roller assembly. I can raise the distributor frame about 1/2 to 3/4″, but since it is partially in front […]
MoreOne hundred years today
REVISED. The question keeps coming up: when was the first Vandercook sold? A 1909 sales brochure says the first press was sold in May of 1909. The story of that sale was recounted in a 1940 Editor & Publisher profile of R.O. Vandercook: “Vandercook had not intended to stop at proof presses, but planned to […]
MorePotter proof press, serial numbers
I have a Potter proof press No. 2. The badge says A. F. Wanner & Co, not Hacker, so maybe an early one. I want to add it to the census but can’t be certain what the serial number is. Below the badge is a small number plate that says PE20. That seems like a […]
MorePrint your own Press!
Hi all – – I thought I’d offer up a link to some fun for your 3 day weekend. In honor of Vandercook’s 100th, I put together a little papercraft version of my SP20 to share with everyone. Don’t know what papercraft is? It’s this: Make your own SP20 at any size you’re willing to […]
MoreNo. 3 carriage ‘bounce’
I recently acquired a Vandercook No. 3. There is still a tremendous amount of cleaning to do, but I have it to a point where at least all the oil holes are un-clogged and the parts that are supposed to move, do so smoothly. I also have brand new rollers on the press. (Polishing all […]
MoreChallenge Style 20KP, #5465
Anyone have a date when this might have been made. I cannot find any information for this press. The University I adjunct teach at needs this information for their records. Casey Inky Lips Letterpress
MoreRegistration on the No. 1
My recently acquired No. 1 proof press (#3639) is an older version sans grippers. The previous owner fashioned a hinged tympan on the bed which I believe was used for registration. He had taped on makeready with gauge pins to the underside of this tympan at one point. However, the press has not been used […]
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