Thursday, October 8, 2009

Official Instructions

VANDERCOOK UNIVERSAL 1 HAND TEST PRESS
100th Anniversary Model Instructions - Scale 10:1

Score
• All dotted tabs will be folded and glued.
• A bone folder and ruler are recommended to make crisp scores along all folding lines.

Cut
• Cut out small dotted tabs along the curved cylinder area on each side of the main box.
Score tabs, but leave them unfolded.
• Cut out pedal shape from the template. On the template sheet, note the arrow pointing toward
the pedal slot on the lower left corner, on the press side with the handle.

Assemble Main Box and Press Bed
• Fold all dotted tabs 90° to back side of piece.
• Fold front end section (with large Vandercook logo) 90° to the side section. Glue the
overlapping bottom tabs.
• Repeat with back end and back section.
• Glue front and back sections together by joining tabs at the side and bottom.
• Glue the press bed to the top of the press, positioning the type end next to the cylinder area.

Add Rollers to Box
• Starting at the back of the box, fold and glue the two roller tabs to the inside of the box.
• Form the rollers along the curved cylinder sides and slide the end tab inside the box.
• After inserting the rollers, apply glue to the back of the small dotted tabs.
• Press the small tabs down on top of the rollers to secure the box sides to the rollers.

Add Roller Strips
• Apply glue to the underside of each of the two roller strips.
• Gently press one strip to each side of the rollers, directly over the dotted cylinder tabs.
• Slide the narrow end of each strip down into the slot where it meets the press bed.

Assemble Registration Table
• Fold tabs and glue. Do not fold the white tab.
• Add the Registration Table by inserting the white tab into the gripper slot.
• Optional: Add a press sheet! Insert a 1.25” x 2.25” sheet of thin paper in the gripper slot.

Add the Pedal
• Slide the pedal into the slot at the lower left corner, on the press side with the handle.

For photos of the assembled model:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/solsken/sets/72157622531040430/

Friday, August 28, 2009

Vandercook Birthday






The Universal 1 Model

a.k.a. Vanderbaby

I am new to this arena and have just started recording the joy/frustration/furrowed brow/exploration/celebration of this project. I was going to start with assembly directions but have decided to begin by relating the events that led to the creation of Vanderbaby.

It began with an email from John Sullivan. He is a long-time friend, ex-employer, fellow homeschooler and generally a good guy to know. He owns LogosGraphics, a workplace for him but a playground for me. Even when I worked there, it was more like playtime then toil.
John and LogosGraphics - www.logosgraphics.net


The email was a casual mention of an upcoming project, something about an insert for Ampersand, the magazine published by Pacific Center for the Book Arts. He asked if I had any ideas and it took a couple of emails before it became clear that he was asking if I wanted to make a 3-D model of this specific press. It was an opportunity to apply knowledge from so many interests and skills, I agreed immediately. I think it was for about 300 copies of the model.
San Francisco Center for the Book Arts - www.pcba.info

I am not sure how San Francisco Center for the Book came on board, only that John was involved with that organization as well. I had assisted him in his classes and we had supplied and installed signage for special events and I took a class in pop-up card mechanics. There was interest in the center distributing copies and getting the paper donated. The amount of copies started rising.
San Francisco Center for the Book - www.sfcb.org

When Mohawk Fine Papers
became involved, more copies were requested and John talked about the project as if it was a virus that kept spreading throughout the letterpress population.
Mohawk Fine Papers - www.mohawkpaper.com

I am laying out directions for assembly that will be enclosed with the model project in a printed envelope. I am blogging and now I have been asked for "a little bio" for "Felt and Wire" to be published by Mohawk.
Felt and Wire - www.feltandwire.com

This thing better be good!!!