I am missing a 219 OS Feedboard. Specifically the metal lip. I’ve exhausted all the sources I know about and have been unable to find a spare part. If you have one or know of one please email me at jordananne@yahoo.com . I posted something similiar a year ago but this is my last ditch […]
More“Broken” Switch on 215
During my recent move to Arkansas, apparently the switch on my Vandy 215 was pushed in from the frame, separating it from the metal housing bracket that holds it in place. Nothing is actually broken or chipped, but just separated. It looks like the housing is meant to be crimped to clamp onto the plastic […]
MoreNot so terrible two
Today marks two years of Vanderblogging. Thank you everyone. On the run-up to the Vandercook centenary our forum has continued to enlarge the common store of proof press knowledge. Here are a few stats compared to a year ago: registered users have increased 171% (from 147 to 252), authored posts 190% (from 114 to 217), […]
MoreBritish-built Vandercooks
A perusal of the serial number/model record cards, held by NA Graphics, revealed that Vandercook & Sons exported presses via multiple foreign firms beginning in the late 1920s through the 1960s. Most of them are listed in adverts found in The Inland Printer as well as The British Printer. This data is compiled on the […]
MoreMove Complete
After 12 years of being in the same location, NA Graphics and the Vandercook records and parts inventory successfully completed its move to our new building on Wednesday–and in some respects, it was the move from Hell. I had no idea I had accumulated such a mountain of crap, in addition to the good stuff. […]
More100 Printers Pledged
We have reached our goal of 100 printers for the Centenary Print Bundle. Thank you to everyone who pledged. Thanks to John Christopher who got the ball rolling. As prints are received I will post jpegs on the Print Bundle Gallery page. I am accepting names for a wait list as it is likely that […]
MoreCreasing/Die-cutting on a Vandercook?
Alot of cutting and creasing in the UK seems to be done on Heidlebergs – I haven’t got one of those, so my question is this: does any one use their Vandercook for cutting and/or creasing and if so what do you use? For cutting I assume you would pack/protect the cylinder from the die […]
MoreSleeve attachment for hand-activated grippper bar
This post related to Hand gripper lever for a No. 3. –PM: Here’s a quick sketch. I don’t have a #3 around me, but if the Gripper Trip Lever is anything like a #4 or an SP-20, you can undo the top 2 screws and let it swing free, slide the tube over, and reassemble.
MorePrint Bundle Gallery Page
Today I created a new gallery page for images of the prints received for the 2009 Vandercook Print Bundle. First at bat: Casey McGarr!
MoreHand gripper lever for a No. 3
Here’s an idea for a hand-activated gripper lever to aid sheet feeding on the No. 3 Vandercook. In the drawing at left, a handle attached to the gripper trip lever is pulled toward the operator, thus moving the push rod against the trip bar which forces the gripper stems to rise. A notable “feature” of […]
MoreMigrating ink
The Book Arts Program at the J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah has a Vandercook 15-21 (shown with the top frame assembly removed) that is experiencing difficulties. Within minutes of application, a majority of the ink added migrates to the non-operator side (highlighted in the image) of the ink distributor assembly and form […]
MoreClaybourn Proof Press
This photo was sent to me by Amanda Stevenson, Curator at the Museum of Printing History in Houston, Texas who asked me to identify the press in the background. I recognized it as a Claybourn hand proof press made in Milwaukee, Wisconsin circa 1926. There should be a nameplate on the operator’s side and the […]
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