Letterpress Research
There are many popular letterpress models used in modern studios. These are the ones we found in Georgia.
The Vandercook.
Founded in 1909 by Robert Vandercook in Chicago, Illinois, Vandercook & Sons was the first press manufacturer to develop a proofing press, a press that does not use gravity but instead a geared cylinder that allowed for more precise and consistent prints. Vandercook & Sons dominated the 20th century proof press industry, making 30,000 presses in 90 different models.
The first press they developed was the “rocker” proof press, named for the unusual rocking proofer. The cylinder was geared on both sides to tracks on the bed. The cylinder was held down against the type by wheels at the axis of the cylinder that ran under shelves on the frame. The press weighed around 1875 lbs. and took a maximum sheet size of 15 ¼ x 23”.
Vandercook Presses Used in Georgia.
No. 4 Proofing Press
Vandercook No. 215 Proof Press
Vandercook SP15 Hand Test Press
Vandercook SP20 Hand Test Press
The Vandercook No. 4 Proofing Press
The Vandercook No. 4 Proofing Press originally manufactured in 1935, was produced for 25 years with minor modifications. It features a complex spring-loaded gear and clutch mechanism on the ends of both roller coresand includes power ink distribution system, type high bed, and a traveling sheet delivery tray. The No. 4 Press weighs approximately 1100 lbs. and a floor space of 2’2″ × 6’6″. The bed of the press is 15″ × 35″ and will take a maximum sheet size of 14¾” × 20″.
Used by Concrete Lace in Atlanta, GA.
The Vandercook No. 215 Proof Press
The Vandercook No. 215 Proof Press is almost identical to the Vandercook No. 4 as it includes a power ink distribution, type high bed, and a traveling sheet delivery tray. The main differences include a gripper pedal and a cabinet that held more inking units than other presses made at the time. This press weighs approximately 1350 lbs. And has a floor space of 2’6” x 8’4”. It has a 15” x 35” bed and takes a maximum sheet size of 14 ¾“ x 20”.
Used by The Atlanta Prinmakers Studio in Hapeville, GA.
The Vandercook SP15 Hand Test Press
The Vandercook SP15 Hand Test Press’ primary purpose was to produce repro proofs using metal type forms on a specially formulated paper, which were then used in the creation of photo-litho plates for offset printing. In contrast to previous Vandercook models, the impression cylinder automatically enters the print mode upon reaching the feed board. Consequently, there is no need for the eccentric movement during the forward carriage travel unless manually shifted into trip mode. It weighs approximately 705 lbs. and has a floor space of 2’8” x 5’9”. The bed is 15” x 31 ½” and the maximum sheet size is 14 ¾” x 20”.
Used by Atlanta Prinmakers Studio in Hapeville, GA.
The Poco Proofing Press
Poco Proofing Presses were manufactured by the A.F. Wanner Co. around the turn of the early 20th century, Wanner played a role as one of the initial sales representatives for Vandercook. The Poco proofing press was introduced by Vandercook in the 1930s. It was designed as a smaller and more compact version of their larger proof presses and were meant to be used in schools and small print shops. It is a tabletop or benchtop proofing press known for its simplicity, durability, and precise inking capabilities. The Poco Press is very versatile as it can be used for proofing type, checking registration, making test prints, and creating limited edition fine art prints. The bed is 9” x 13”, but the maximum sheet size varies by model.
Used by Atlanta Prinmakers Studio in Hapeville, GA.
The Vandercook SP20 Hand Test Press
The Vandercook SP20 Hand Test Press, originally manufactured in 1960 is commonly used for testing typefaces, proofing designs, making limited edition prints, and fine-tuning printing plates before running a larger print job on a larger, motorized letterpress. It is popular among artists, designers, and printers who require a hands-on approach to the printing process. The SP20 includes power ink distribution and automatic wash-up. The automatic wash-up systems, introduced to Vandercook presses around the late 1950s, are designed to clean the ink rollers and other ink-related components automatically. It is a time-saving feature that simplifies the cleanup process after a printing job. The SP20 has a bed size of 20” x 26” and a maximum sheet size of 19½” × 28″.
Used by Brown Parcel Press in Sparta, GA.
Chandler & Price.
While negotiating to buy interest in the Cleveland Type Foundry, Illinois banker Harrison T. Chandler met William H. Price, the son of a printing press builder. They founded the Chandler & Price Printing Co. of Cleveland in 1881 and began building and manufacturing printing equipment. Chandler & Price Co. presses were and still are widely loved by printmakers because of their accessibility for makeready, long impression dwell, pause for feeding plus its heavy precision construction. This allowed the press to handle printing tasks ranging from small postage stamps to large four-color register forms and die cutting without a hitch.
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Chandler & Price's first press, the hand-fed platen jobbing press, was first patented in 1885. It was not an entirely original design; it was instead built upon several expired patents issued to George Phineas Gordon around 1850. This renowned press featured a reciprocating vertical bed, supported by two lengthy legs hinged to a shaft at the rear base of the press. This unique "long hinge" arrangement allowed the printing surface to approach the platen almost parallel. The platen's movement, guided by a toggle mechanism actuated by a cam wheel, ensured that the bed moved forward in the correct sequence during the printing cycle.
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By 1910, Chandler & Price was the main manufacturer of printing presses and printing materials. They made paper cutters, book-binders, composing sticks, proof presses, and a line of 6” x 9” table top presses called the pilot, now considered one their “Old Style” presses. There are three main generations of the Chandler & Price press, distinguishable by the flywheel. The “Old Style” presses, produced 1884-1914 had wavy spokes on the flywheel, the “New Style”, produced 1911-1964 had plain spokes, and the “Craftsman”, produced 1921-1964, had a solid flywheel.
Chandler & Price Presses Used in Georgia.
The Chandler & Price Craftsman
The Chandler & Price Craftsman, manufactured from 1921 to 1964, came in 10x15, 12x18, and 14.5x22 sizes. These presses retained the fundamental design elements of Gordon's original style, featuring a massive one-piece frame, four form rollers, two vibrator rollers, and a brayer fountain. The Craftsman was widely used for halftone and fine register work and was capable of handling tasks similar in complexity to those typically assigned to a pony cylinder press, known for its ability to provide hairline registration. With the belief that it was no longer economically feasible to operate hand-fed jobbers, the 1920s and 1930s saw the development of various automatic feeders, many designed specifically to fit the Craftsman.
Used by Bumblebee Press & Blue Canoe Press, both located in Atlanta, GA.
The Chandler and Price Old Style Platen Press
The Chandler and Price Old Style Platen press, also called "the jobber", has a very similar design to the Gordon Franklin. This generation of the Chandler & Price Press is characterized by ornate castings, a high base, and the large flywheel. has a wide opening so the bed and platen are accessible and ready when they need to be cleaned. In the time they were manufactured, these presses were geared towards small businesses and schools to make small documents and prints.
Used by Atlanta Printmakers Studio, in sizes 8”x12” and 10”x15”, in Hapeville, GA.
The Heidelberg
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, is a German company that is a global leader in the manufacturing of printing equipment, particularly offset printing presses. Founded in 1850 in Heidelberg, Germany by Andreas Hamm and Andreas Albert, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG or the Heidelberg press has a long history of success in the printing industry. In the early 20th century, Heidelberg was instrumental in the development of offset printing technology, which revolutionized the printing industry. Offset printing allows for high-quality, fast, and efficient printing and became the dominant printing method for the production of books, magazines, and various commercial materials. During the 1960s-1970s, Heidelberg expanded its product line to include various printing and post-press equipment, such as sheetfed offset presses, web offset presses, and digital printing equipment. This diversification allowed Heidelberg to serve a broader range of printing needs.
The first offset printing press developed by Heidelberg was called the "Original Heidelberger Cylinder Press." This press, introduced in the early 1900s, marked a significant step in the evolution of printing technology, based on offset printing press principles.
Heidelberg Presses Used in Georgia.
The Original Heidelberg (1958)
The 1958 Heidelberg Press is colloquially referred to as the Heidelberg Windmill as a simplification of how the press works. A pioneering innovation, the Heidelberg printing press incorporates a unique double-sided rotating arm responsible for autonomously supplying and collecting paper, eliminating the necessity for manual paper feeding. The Heidelberg Windmill employs a patented "propeller-gripper" vacuum system within the arm to initially pick up a sheet of paper and securely position it against the platen. When it’s finished, the printed paper is discharged into a tray, while simultaneously introducing a new blank sheet of paper into the process. Heidelberg Windmills are letterpress printing presses, known for their precision, reliability, and high-quality output. They were particularly popular for fine printing, such as business cards, invitations, and stationery, as well as for commercial and packaging printing.
Used by Blue Canoe Press & Bumblebee Press, both located in Atlanta, GA.
The 1962 Heidelberg Cylinder
The 1962 Heidelberg Cylinder refers to two presses made in 1962, the Heidelberg S Cylinder and the Heidelberg SBG Cylinder.
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The Heidelberg S Cylinder is designed for quick production and is known for its high speed production, as is clear with the “S”, standing for “Schnellzylinder,” which means “fast cylinder in German. It comes in a variety of different sizes, but is commonly used for smaller to medium-sized printing jobs. It is commonly used for general letterpress and commercial printing work, such as business cards, stationery, and other small to medium-sized print jobs.
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The Heidelberg SBG Cylinder is primarily designed for die-cutting and larger format printing, making it more suitable for specialized applications like packaging and label printing. Similarly to the Heidelberg S Cylinder, the “SBG” makes its usage obvious with “SBG” standing for "Stanz und Buchdruckmaschine in Gross" in German, which translates to "die-cutting (or punching) and large format letterpress machine." Because it is designed for larger format work, it typically has a larger platen size and can handle larger sheets, making it suitable for die-cutting, embossing, and printing on larger materials used in packaging and similar applications that require precision and large format work
Used by Blue Canoe Press in Atlanta, GA.