This page aims to share known electrical update projects and sources for replacement parts for Vandercook Universal series and SP25 and SP33 Vandercook power carriage presses. It will be expanded to include earlier models and other brands as the information becomes available.
- Universal I Vandercook Electrical Upgrade Package, Robert Meehan, Pier Six Press website
- A Ridiculously Detailed Look at the Control Circuits for a Vandercook Universal I AB P Proofing Press, Erik Brunvand, PDF
- Universal III Vandercook Electrical Upgrade, Vladmir Schuster, Instagram
Available Electrical Components
This data table was developed from a parts list originally compiled by Daniel Gardiner Morris. Additional information contributed by Erik Brunvand, John Henry, A.J. Masthay, Robert Meehan, and Paul Moxon. Revised April 21, 2026. To add data, please contact the site admin.
| Part/Type | OEM | Old Part # | Current Part # | Specs | V Input | Max Current | Supplier (e.g.) + Notes [author] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge Rectifier - Shunt Field | Individual diodes | GBL04 | 400v, 4A rectifier | 115V-120V AC | Fused to ½A | Mouser Semiconductor rectifiers are now in a single package rather than made from individual diodes [EB] | |
| Bridge Rectifier - Series + Armature | Individual diodes | KBJB1006 | 600v, 10A rectifier | 115V-120V AC | Fused to 4A on Uni I, 5A on Uni III | Mouser Semiconductor rectifiers are now in a single package rather than made from individual diodes [EB] | |
| Bulb cover | 2811 red dome lens | RS Electronics | |||||
| Capacitor/metal "bathtub" | Sprague | CP53B1EG254K | CP53B1EG254K | 0.25MFD, 1000V | tedss Uncertain if this is a current part number or NOS. [EB] | ||
| Control knob | General Radio | KNSP-6 black | Same as Old | Leeds Radio and ebay [EB] NOS Bakelite | |||
| Control lever | Allen Bradley | 800T T2MB21 | Same as Old | Radwell Bakelite knob. Main forward, stop, reverse lever assembly | |||
| Control Relay/Contactor | RBM | RBM 45200-2 or RBM 45211-2? | Telemechanique LC1 D12 01 | 2NO 1NC (can use 3NO 1NC, like F and R) | 115V-120V AC coil | US Breaker LC1 D12 01 is a standard 3-phase contactor with an auxilary NC contact. Telemechanique version no longer made, but there are new replacement versions. Other 120VAC coil, 3NO 1NC contactors will work. [EB] | |
| DIN Rail | N/A | Top-Hat | No need for a DIN rail unless if replacing everything [EB] | ||||
| Forward/Contactor | RBM | RBM 45200-2 or RBM 45211-2? | Telemechanique LC1 D12 01 | 3NO 1NC | 115V-120V AC coil | US Breaker LC1 D12 01 is a standard 3-phase contactor with an auxilary NC contact. Telemechanique version not made any more, but there are new replacement versions. Other 120VAC coil, 3NO 1NC contactors will work. [EB] | |
| Front Relay | Ohmite | DOSX-7T | DOSX-7T | DPDT | 115V-120V AC coil | 10-15A | ebay DOSX-7T is a legacy device, but widely available. Lots of 120VAC DPDT coils that will look different but work fine. [EB] |
| Fuses | Fusetron | FNM-5 | AGC fuses? FNM-5 doesn't seem right… | 115-250V AC | 1/2A and 4A for Uni I | Amazon Universal III needs 5A | |
| Limit Switch | Honeywell | BZE6-2RN2 / BZE6-2RQ2 | Same as Old | Mouser Standard lever/roller industrial micro switches | |||
| Rear Relay | Ohmite | DOSX-7T | DOSX-7T | DPDT | 115V-120V AC coil | 10-15A | ebay The DOSX-7T is a legacy device, but they're still widely available. There are also lots of 120VAC DPDT coils that will look different but work fine. [EB] |
| Resistor ??? | Ohmite | L25J500 500 OHMS 25 W | |||||
| Resistor 200k Ohm 50W ??? | Ohmite | L50J200K | |||||
| Resistor 500 Ohm 25W ??? | Ohmite | L25J500 | |||||
| Series Field resistor | Ohmite | NO. 0400K 2Ω N-8 | Any 2Ω 50w resistor | 2Ω, 50w | Mouser Make sure it's the right length if you want it to fit the bracket in the Vandercook [EB] | ||
| Speed control resistor | Ohmite | NO. 0400H 200Ω N-31 | Any 200Ω 50w resistor | 200Ω, 50w | Mouser Make sure it's the right length if you want it to fit the bracket in the Vandercook [EB] | ||
| Reverse/Contactor | RBM | RBM 45200-2 or RBM 45211-2? | Telemechanique LC1 D12 01 | 3NO 1NC | 115V-120V AC coil | US Breaker LC1 D12 01 is a standard 3-phase contactor with an auxilary NC contact. Telemechanique version not made any more, but there are new replacement versions. Other 120VAC coil, 3NO 1NC contactors will work. [EB] | |
| Rheostat | Ohmite | 319 | Ohmite RJS80RE | 80Ω, 50w | Mouser | ||
| Run bulb | B2A neon bulb | Same as old | Amazon Standard neon 120 VAC bulb | ||||
| Start button | Honeywell | 12MA7 | Same as old | Mouser main green button on press | |||
| Stationary contact | RBM | 45200-2 | I don't know what this part is… I suspect it has to do with the time delay on CYCLE mode, which is only on some powered carriage presses. [EB] | ||||
| Movable contact | RBM | 45211-2 | I don't know what this part is… I suspect it has to do with the time delay on CYCLE mode, which is only on some powered carriage presses. [EB] | ||||
| Time Delay Relay | Ohmite | DOSX-7T | DOSX-7T | DPDT | 115V-120V AC coil | 10-15A | ebay |
| Variac/Auto Transformer | Ohmite | VT 8X | NOS VT 8X or 501-C Staco Variac | 115-120V AC input, 0-140V AC output | 5-7.5A | ISE 501-C Staco has 5A max which should be OK for Universal I, 1010B Staco has 10A max so could be used on a Universal III. [EB] | |
| Zener Diode | I don't know what the ratings are of the TVS diods in the Vandercook schematic, so it's hard to suggest a replacement. [EB] |
This is a great list and saved my bacon initially! I have been refurbishing my wife’s universal 1 for her printing business and this was a great place to start. Due to the obsolescence issues I have been developing a power carriage based on the schematic which I also had to redraw into a modern circuit diagram. The frequency of relays degrading was a quick easy fix using 110AC DPDT 10AMP relays. I used OMRON MY2N-J AC110 relays in place of the DOSX-7T relays and they have been working fantastically and should last longer then the old ones. Next task is identifying modern contactors. Don’t know if this information is useful to anyone or if anyone has advice on new contactors but thanks for the list here!