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 […]
MoreWear under the top rail on the Vandercook and Challenge Presses
We are working on a workaround for the wear under the top rail on the Vandercook and Challenge presses. This wear will produce metal flakes when you wipe a rag along the rail. On some presses it will cause light and dark spots on your printed matter. If you are having this problem, please let […]
MoreBundle status
Today is the official deadline to have received participants prints for the centenary bundle. So far I’ve received 61 out of a projected 100. While it fell on a Sunday this year, August 16 was chosen because it is (was) the birthday of R.O. Vandercook. Several participants have told me their prints are in the […]
MoreHappy Discovery
So, as some of you may remember, I’m restoring an SP20 currently (yeah, I know, I should be done by now… but I’m not.) Well, I’m finally having the rollers recast, and I noticed something yesterday I thought I’d pass along. I was cleaning the gunk off of the ends of my cores to send […]
MoreFreeing up jammed positive lock-up bar
I have a badly corroded lock-up bar that I would like to free up. I see numerous good suggestions on how to remove rust, but considering the steel AND aluminum construction of this bar, any suggestions on a type of penetrating oil or rust remover that would work on the movable steel components while not […]
MoreHalftone Problems
Well, it appears that I have chosen to showcase my relative inexperience with a contribution to the Vandercook bundle. Currently, I am having problems printing my second ever halftone. First of all, I think that I may need new rollers as these are a little glazed. I’ve used Putz pomade and a scotch brite pad […]
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