Vandercook SP15 (with or without motor)?
I’m looking at at Vandercook SP15 without the self-inking motor. I’m very familiar with an SP15 with a motor, but know nothing about the non-motor version.
When it comes down to it, what is the difference? Is the inking a lot more work? Do you have to re-ink a lot more?
Does anyone know how much the difference in price usually is between the two versions?
Bennett,
The SP-15 without the motorized drum should have a roller that can be turned by a hand wheel in order to work up the ink. Then the inking system is refreshed while it is rolled across the form. This is similar to the inking system on the Vandercook #3 and 320 series presses.
Personally I would much rather have a press with a motor because the lower drum allows the inking system to carry more ink. This provides for more consistent printing over the course of an edition.
And if this is the press you are speaking of
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=227976475&context=set-7215759425...
then you may want to avoid it. It looks to have had its motorized drum removed and has no provision for the hand wheel.
Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY
Early on the SP-15 was offered without a motorized ink drum as an option. Several renowned fine press printers, such as Claire Van Vliet and Walter Hamady, had presses outfitted thusly. Hamady was actually “the” early champion of the Vandercook for edition printing.
The first Vandercook I used was such a press. Yes, because there is no ink drum there is no reservoir and you do have to re-ink more often. On the other hand, it’s a Vandercook, not a Heidelberg. Speed is not one of its qualities. Yet far far faster than hand inking on an iron hand press.
Vandercook tooted these as a bit special early on but eventually abandoned that with market resistance. You do have far more control over the inking process with this type of press, mainly because you can sync in tune with the travel of the oscillator, which is far more difficult to do with a motorized drum unit. And that is a little trick with high yield.
Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com
I have both versions of the SP15 and use them often for slightly different reasons. When inking larger, continuous forms with greater surface area, the motorized version is preferred. For a galley of type in small point sizes, the non-motorized version is fine. A few cranks on the handwheel will supply adequate ink. This will add about 5 or 10 seconds to your press time.
Both are very good and desireable presses. Passing up any SP15 in good condition would be a mistake.
Craig Malmrose
Gerald, in your post of September 11, you said, “You do have far more control over the inking process with this type of press, mainly because you can sync in tune with the travel of the oscillator, which is far more difficult to do with a motorized drum unit. And that is a little trick with high yield.” Could you expand on this a bit? Thanks so much!
Barbara Hauser
Super Session :—)
First and Last.
Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com
OUCH! I so very much wish I could join you for the Super Session. Now I’m worried that you’ll be sharing your most arcane and well-guarded letterpress magic tricks and I will be ignorant of them forever. The last workshop I took with you at Lala Press made all the difference in understanding my press and getting such happy results from it.
However. One of main reasons I got my own press — and put it in the living room, for goodness sake — was to assure my dear husband that I would STAY PUT and not go running off to letterpress classes and workshops. Also, he’s starting to suspect that something’s going on in the expenditure department since small, but very heavy, cartons are arriving on our doorstep almost daily.
So I suppose I will have to muse and ponder about syncing in tune with my oscillator. Actually, I have noticed some subtle differences in print quality depending on whether I begin my little jaunt down the press bed when the oscillator is closer or further from me. Am I getting warm?
Anyway, I’m sure the workshop will be extremely valuable and I envy the attendees.
Barbara
Ha
Very warm.
I’m quite sure I have blathered about this before. Check both the PPLetterpress and Letpress archives. I have a file somewhere I am sure but I use the holiday time to write and prepare for the next year so am really a bit tired. I was probably a bit more lucid then.
Don’t worry, grasshopper, the road is long and winding but it’s a great travel.
Gerald
We have a Vandercook SP-15 for sale here:
http://bit.ly/apn4Eb
Daniel Morris
The Dale Guild Type Foundry
Howell, NJ & Brooklyn, NY
I have a sp15 with motor and am selling. Thought I would mention it here before posting on criegslist or eBay. All parts intact, minor rust with no pitting. Also a type cabinet and type.
Where are you located and what are you looking to sell it for?
Presumably Boston—hopefully $2010!