Serial Number Year Tables

Vandercook ran serial numbers consecutively without regard to model numbers. Below is listed, by serial number, the first press manufactured each year. From September 30, 1909, when the company was started, until June 1914 Vandercook manufactured about 280 presses without serial numbers. On June 23, 1914 they shipped a model 17 with serial number 1.

The first serial number(s) used each year are recorded. Offices presses have their own serial number series. There is no explanation for presses like the 25, whose first serial number was number 101A; or the 315, which started with number 137A. According to the available information, in some years, the earliest serial number manufactured during a year is higher than the earliest serial number of a model introduced in that year. All equipment had a serial number including Hacker test gauges.

The prefix 99 indicates the press was rebuilt by Vandercook circa 1922–47.
Serial numbers beginning at 50000 indicate the press was rebuilt by Vandercook between 1958 and 1967. 

Main models Year First S/N 1915 56 1916 124 1917 332 1918 569 1919 652 1920 1397 1921 1472 1922 1533 1923 1649 1924 1838 1925 2135 1926 2492 1927 2926 1928 3446 1929 4103 1930 4895 1931 5456 1932 5755 1933 5814 1934 6024 1935 6180 1936 6491 1937 7047 1938 7649 1939 8100 1940 8613 1941 9110 1942 9700 1943 9765 1944 9854 1945 9893 1946 9912 1947 10333 1948 12146 1949 13306 1950 13947 1951 14802 1952 15477 1953 15950 1954 16549 1955 17404 1956 18040 1957 18419 1958 18957 1959 19489 1960 20123 1961 21016 1962 21629 1963 22635 1964 23425 1965 24630 1966 25603 1967 26475 1968 27255 1969 28195 1970 28727 1971 29093 1972 29145 1973 29652 1974 29807 1975 29931 1976 30004 1984 30126

Rebuilt Presses Year First S/N 1958 50000 1959 50011 1960 50021 1961 50037 1962 50049 1963 50059 1964 50068 1965 50080 1966 50097 1967 50107 1968 50142

Office Presses Year First S/N 1929 0101 1930 0206 1931 01248 1932 01629 1933 01837 1934 02390 1935 02958 1936 03359 1937 03934 1938 04526 1939 04930 1940 05318 1941 05725 1942 06183 1943 No Data 1944 06322 1945 06345 1946 06351 1947 06400 1948 06883 1949 07149 1950 07285 1951 07429 1952 07566 1953 07679 1954 07779 1955 07871 1956 07922 1957 07952

This data compiled by Harold E. Sterne from the original sales record books and index cards when he owned NA Graphics. For existing presses see the Vandercook Census and the “Office Press” Census. See also Platemaking Equipment Census.