The Original Heidelberg Zylinder 38 cm x 52 cm (14.96 x 20.47 in) cylinder press was launched in 1957 by Schnellpressenfabrik AG Heidelberg, manufactered in their new plant at Wiesloch-Walldorf after a development process spanning eight years—including two years of testing by customers.1
The inking unit is equipped with 4 form rollers of different diameters, in addition the ink is distributed by 2 distributing rollers and the ductor roller in conjunction with 3 steel distributors of different diameters.
This is the only known example of the Pearl No. 2. Unlike its siblings the No. 1 and No. 3 which are commonly found on bases with flywheels and treadles, the No. 2 began and ended its production run only as a tabletop. Notice the very unusual placement of the feed board. The exact date of this press is unknown but it is believed to have been manufactured in 1875 or 1876.
“William Golding of Boston set up shop as a printer’s supply house in 1869 and soon graduated to the manufacture of seals, then small amateur presses, and finally full-sized jobbing presses. Golding first manufactured his Jobber in 1880, eleven years after he introduced the simpler, popular Pearl press (see Pearl OS No.1). The Jobber was, from the start, a heavy-duty trade press. The Official and the Pearl, introduced as presses for amateurs, began themselves to evolve beyond the reach of the amateur. Evidently Golding found that selling to the conventional printing trade was more profitable than selling to amateurs; from the 1880s he began to forswear his earlier amateur connections. Nevertheless, he continued to advertise do-your-own-printing outfits. After Golding’s death, his company was sold to the American Type Founders Company, and later to the Thomson National Press Company. Len Carrick writes, “”I ran the serial numbers, and found that this press left the factory on May 6, 1888. It has been in my family since 1914.””
This press was made in the following chase sizes:
Golding Jobber No.6 (shown), 8″”x12″”
Golding Jobber No.7, 10″”x15″”
Golding Jobber No.8, 12″”x18″”
Golding Jobber No.9, 15″”x21″””
Paul Moxon
(1929-57)
The No. 099, is the smallest model in the office press series. It is a simple galley press with a rubberized impression cylinder not geared to a rack. Cylinder bearers roll on the bed bearers and are supported only by bearings riding the under rail. There are no form rollers but paper grippers were an option. Also called gravity presses or “Showcard” presses, there were several competitors. (Vandercook supplied presses to the Showcard Company, which attached their own nameplate to the carriage.) Maximum form: 12½ × 16″; maximum sheet: 13 × 22″. The Serial number range is separate from other models. There are more than twenty No. 099 office presses in the Vandercook gravity press census, but it is likely that more are in use. See the 0, 01 and 03.
Paul Moxon
(1929-57)
The No. 03 belongs to the office press series. It is a simple galley press with a rubberized impression cylinder not geared to a rack. Cylinder bearers roll on the bed bearers and are supported only by bearings riding the under rail. There are no form rollers but paper grippers were an option. Also called gravity presses or “Showcard” presses, there were several competitors. (Vandercook supplied presses to the Showcard Company, which attached their own nameplate to the carriage.) Optional cabinet, manual inking equipment (brayer, ink plate), register device with or without foot operated grippers. Optional newspaper equipment: swinging Floor plate truck lift, blocks and bed plate. Maximum form: 25¼ × 34″; maximum sheet: 25¾ × 42″. The Serial number range is separate from other models. There are a mere five No. 03 office presses in the Vandercook gravity press census, but it is likely that more are in use. See the 0, 01 and 099.
Paul Moxon
(1929-57)
The No. 01 belongs to the office press series. It is a simple galley press with a rubberized impression cylinder not geared to a rack. Cylinder bearers roll on the bed bearers and are supported only by bearings riding the under rail. There are no form rollers but paper grippers were an option. Also called gravity presses or “Showcard” presses, there were several competitors. (Vandercook supplied presses to the Showcard Company, which attached their own nameplate to the carriage.) The Serial number range is separate from other models. Maximum form: 14½ × 26”; maximum sheet: 15 × 32”. There are a mere five No. 01 office presses in the Vandercook gravity press census, but it is likely that more are in use. See the 0, 03 and 099.
The 325G was available with a hand-cranked or a power carriage. The 325G is identical to the 325A except that it has a pedal to open the gripper. Optional automatic sheet delivery and ink fountain were originally available. Maximum form: 24 × 24½”; maximum sheet: 25 × 30″. There are over twenty 325G presses listed in the Vandercook census. See 320G, 325A.
The 325A was available with a hand-cranked carriage. and was the company’s first power carriage model. It has automatic grippers only, no pedal (like the No. 3), which requires the operator to roll the carriage forward to raise the grippers, then roll carriage back to meet the paper. The 325A also features an adjustable bed end to help move large forms between the press and a truck (a rolling iron table). Optional automatic sheet delivery and ink fountain were originally available. Maximum form: 24 × 24½”; maximum sheet: 25 × 30″. There are fewer than ten 325A presses in the Vandercook census. See 320G, 325G.
Paul Moxon
(1963-76)
The SP25 was specifically designed to print full newspaper page proofs and also large repro proofs, from metal type forms on specially formulated paper, which were then used to make photo-litho plates for offset printing. Unlike earlier Vandercook models, the impression cylinder is automatically in print mode when at the feed board, thus there is no movement of the eccentric during the forward carriage travel unless it is manually shifted into trip mode. It features the “quick change” rollers introduced with the Universal series. The SP25 was available with an optional power carriage. The gripper bar (simpler and lighter than earlier models) is the same style found on later Universals. Power ink distribution and an automatic wash up unit was standard. Optional features included a power cylinder and an ink fountain for handling volume proofs. Maximum form: 24 × 26″; maximum sheet: 24½ × 28″. A dozen SP25 presses are represented in the Vandercook census. See also SP15 and SP20.
