C&P Old Style vs Vandercook

I am trying to start a small letterpress business and was wondering what press would be ideal. I’m looking into getting a C&P Old Style Floor Model Press or a Vandercook 3 or 4. Can anyone please help me out in making a decision on what press would work best? I’m looking for a press that can supply me with great quality and a great impression.

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What sorts of things are you planning to print? What quantities? What sizes?

I am planning on printing invitations and envelopes. Maybe some day I will experiment with posters. Is the Vandercook SP15 a great press as well? I’m not sure as I hear all those presses are great presses.

Updated. We are running a small card and invitation business from a Vandercook SP-15 and it has been great. However when we do add another press to our outfit we will definitely get a platen (floor) press. The Vandercook is an amazing piece of equipment, but a properly-used platen press can be far more efficient when it comes to quantity/speed.

The other downside to the Vandercook is that they are in such high demand and the prices have gone sky high. If you want a nice 3 or 4 on the open market you may expect to spend up to 5000 dollars. If you can find a good deal (in the hundreds instead of thousands) I wouldn’t pass it up. On the other hand the C&P floor models can often be found for well under 1000… I personally know of an immaculate 8x12 old style for $250 (and that’s totally refurb’d with new rollers)

That is some great information. Can you give me the contact information of photos to that press that is for sale?

For small cards and invitations, I would definitely go with a platen press. As Diacharry says, a good C & P 8 X 12 can be found at a reasonable price. Tabletop Pilots fetch more. The $250 press would be a steal if it is anywhere near where you live and can be moved easily. The rollers, cores and trucks, if they are good ones, are worth that much.

I use my Vandercook for Posters and small runs only. I use my platen press for smaller items (sheet size) that have 150 or more quantity.

You’ll soon find your shoulder, arm, hips, feet get worn out fast, and I mean you’ll get worn out cranking the handle on the Vandercook.

I suggest a Platen press for card and envelope printing. It’s much easier but a bit more time on set up.

Casey
Inky Lips Press

check out the stories on long run printing on the Vandercook website,

http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2007/06/27/largest-run/

I have a C&P 10x15 and 2 Vandercooks and I am in agreement with the view that the platen press is the better starting point. The C&P prints beautiful cards and the speed really becomes an issue when you want to do production runs for payment. The Vandy really comes into its own in the realm of book work or anything that requires a larger form — the make ready surely is easier on a cylinder press. I wish you all the joy this wonderful craft has to offer. j adams

Thanks Adam, that information helps since you have both presses.