As a result of publicizing the gains of the Vandercook census, owners of other brands of cylinder proof presses have volunteered their data and have also alerted me to the existence of additional owners. In particular the “Asbern”:https://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/asbern/ and “Challenge”:https://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/challenge/ censuses have begun to take shape.
MoreA thousand Vandercooks!
The Vandercook Census has reached a milestone: “1011”:https://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/census/ presses are known to still exist worldwide. Are there another thousand out there? Is your press represented? How many “Asberns”:https://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/asbern/, “Challenges”:https://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/challenge/ et al. ? The globe graphic, one of three similar designs, is from a Universal I operator’s manual dating from the late 1950s.
MoreThe young Vandercook sons
From left: Fred, Ed, and Dave Vandercook standing next to a lathe, circa 1918. This may be the W. Austin Avenue plant (Nos. 1716-1722). This photo, perhaps taken by R.O. Vandercook, is provided courtesy of Bill and Lynn (Vandercook) Critchlow.
MoreStanley Metza
Not long ago I interviewed Stanley A. Metza, West coast regional sales manager for Vandercook from 1960 to 1975. Now 94 years old, he spoke of heading a four-man sales team selling Vandercook products from the 30-26 four-color proof press to the SP15 which he deemed “a pup.” The son of Polish immigrants, the […]
MoreMotorless SP-15 on eBay in NE
There is a Vandercook SP-15 on eBay in Omaha, Nebraska. It is equipped with a hand wheel to work the ink instead of the lower ink drum. These presses can’t carry quite as much ink as the motorized SP-15, but if this press is in your neck of the woods it might be worth a […]
MoreInk rollers
Hi, I recently obtained a vandercook that is in pretty rough shape and missing a lot of parts, although still great for what I need it to do. I have the two inking rollers that are supposed to be mounted together with the oscillating roller (excuse the made up terminology), but they aren’t usable anymore. […]
MoreHappy Birthday!
Today marks one year of Vanderblogging. Thank you to all registered users, we now number 147. Together we have generated 114 posts and 495 comments that have been viewed over 33,984 times. These figures are nearly double those reported six months ago. This is a vibrant forum that will continue to grow. New pages and […]
MoreBill Critchlow
Today I spoke by telephone with former Vandercook and Sons employee Bill Critchlow who worked for there from 1961 to 1971. While a student at the University of Arizona, Mr. Critchlow met his future wife Lynn, daughter of company president E.O. Vandercook. After marrying, he attended dental school at the University of Pittsburgh. Afterward he […]
MoreMore V&S Employee photos
I’ve posted six additional “photos”:https://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/employee/photos/ of Vandercook & Sons employee gatherings. Once you view them you will agree that Lowenbrau was the offical company beer.
MoreImprovised photopolymer bases
I was recently asked about a homemade photopolymer base I use at The Arm and thought it would be of value to post the reply here where it might be of use to others. “The base you saw at The Arm was an acrylic base with an aluminum surface laminated to it. It works okay, […]
MoreForm roller pins on a No. 4
 Here is the drawing for the form roller pins on a No. 4, along with a photograph of the pins on my unit. Are the pins supposed to be as round as the drawing shows? In other words, is it time I had my pins replaced? Thanks, Barbara
MoreForm roller clutch on a No. 4
Hello. I am a newbie restoring a No. 4. I have cleaned all of the moving parts and am putting everything back in place. When I turned on the motor for the first time and lowered the oscillating and form roller assemblies, I noticed a faint clacking sound that didn’t seem right. I turned off […]
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