One
of the major steps in the
growth of the Excelsior Press was the acquisition of our first proof
press, a Vandercook Model 4T, built in 1946 and initially sold to
Newark Trade Typographers in 1946 and
acquired at auction, in NYC, in 1977.
The Vandercook made possible
things that simply were not practical on the 8x12
or the 12x18 "Big Ben" Hand-fed platen presses we used for most of our
work. At the time, we were a full-time
commercial print shop and one of two local printers in our community.
We used it to print proofs of hand-set type for our own use as well as
for other printers. We used it to print posters up to 14x20 inches. We
played with it; we printed engravings, made up funny little signs and
simply enjoyed having it in our shop. It became the most popular
machine. Our Vandercook Model 4 is featured
on the second half of our print shop hand press video.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Our Proof Presses
today
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This ignomineous
stack of machines are three of our proof presses, piled one upon the
other as we prepare permanent work spaces for them. The lower one is an
old Vandercook Composing Room Cylinder - |
A few notes about the Showcard Vandercook Proof Press This "Mini-Vandercook" Showcard press is actually a standard proof press in every way. In fact, the way we discovered that it was made by Vandercook is that while restoring it, I recognized that it was identical in design to my larger Vandercook Model 99 proof press - same design, same bearings, etc. - just quite a bit smaller. That discovery piqued my interest and I asked around and Fritz Klinke at NA Graphics - current owner of the Vanderook/Vandersons name and records - confirmed that he has a list of serial numbers assigned by Vandercook to these "Showcard" presses. This press can be used to print from any sort of standard type, linotype, ludlow, engravings, photo-polymer plates - any standard type -height (.918") relief plate or type. The special Showcard type, in fact, is nothing more than regular foundry or wood type that has had a slot cut into it from the bottom. The slot allows the type to fit over the square rods that formed a removeable, adjustable grid in the bed of the press The Showcard company expected that this press would be used to print small point-of-sale signs in department stores and such - using untrained labor - sales people, stock boys and such - not printers. To make their system appealing to their unschooled users, they developed an easy system of composition wherein the 'printer' would simply lay the top on top of an adjustable grid system which held it in place. It's rather clever, actually, but only needed if one has no idea how to set type or lock up a form. One additional feature of the Showcard press, not found on its Model 99 and 01 " big brothers" is a gripper at one end which holds the sheet - or card in place - allowing for a rudimentary form of register which would make this little press pratical for short runs of loose-register two-color work. |
The 1946 Model 4T and the 1936 Model 099 are in the
other room, amidst the type cases. The photo below shows them both,
sort of... 
You can see the board we place
across the rails of the Model 4 when it's not in use. There's a large
type form on the bed underneath that cover and we want it to stay
clean.
Besides, that little piece of plywood, cut to fit just right and sanded
and stained to look nice, makes a great place to lay my reading glass
case... ;)
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Our
Vandercook Model 4 would look like this one from Paul Moxon's
Vandercook
website if we ever get it fully restored to like new
condition. Currently, that work is in process - although it's in
perfect working order and is used regularly, it's still waiting for
that complete sanding down and fresh coats of paint that it deserves.
We've got another one in the barn, but it went through a flood and
still needs a lot of work before it will go back into operation.
In addition, as of 3/10/09, we have just collected a Vandercook Model 01 which we will be restoring during the summer of 2009.
And, for Paul's review, here are the serial number plates for the three Vandercooks currently in operation in our shop:
Composing Room Cylinder - No 17(?) serial number 992086
According to Paul Moxon, the 99 is a prefix that indicates that the
press was reconditioned at the factory. So the original serial number
would have been 2086. Ours was reconditioned in 1924, so it appears to
have originally been built prior to then.
and, our 1946 Model 4T
and the Vandercook Model 99 - serial number 03625 made in 1936.
I'll also get the sn of the other Vandercook and the Challenge presses out in the barn.
Ink form roller diameters :
| Press | form roller diameter |
| Vandercook Model 4 Proof Press - form rollers | 2 7/16" |
| Vandercook Model 17 Proof Press - form rollers | 2 1/4" |
| Challenge GP Proof Press - form rollers | 3" |
Acknowledgements
We wish to acknowledge the information and support
we have had from Fritz Klinke of NA Graphics and Vandercook expert
Paul Moxon, http://vandercookpress.info/,
keepers of the flame, so to speak, without whose help this page would
be much less informative. NA Graphics is current owner of the
Vandercook name, supplier of Vandercook parts and supplies and achivist
of Vandercook production records. Paul Moxon maintains a very
comprehensive Vandercook website - which includes a registry of owners
and the current location of Vandercook and other proof presses.
page last updated
April 10, 2007 March 22, 2009