The Universal III is member of the Universal series, which introduced the “quick change” form roller assembly where each one is independently set into brackets inside the carriage with height adjustment knobs on the ends of the core. This frameless design eliminated the need to adjust the front and back roller on each side in tandem as on earlier models, such as the No. 3, No. 4 and 219. Only the rear form roller contacting the ink drum has a gear. The oscillator and a single rider are mounted on the carriage on arms that swing up and away from the form rollers for cleaning. Power ink distribution and an automatic wash up unit was standard. Optional features included an adjustable bed, variable-speed power carriage and a tower for registration tapes or an automatic frisket roll, ink fountain and ink monitor. Maximum form: 18 × 24″; maximum sheet: 18¾ × 28″. More than one hundred Universal III presses are listed in the Vandercook census. Two larger models the Universal VI and V were also made, but are exceedingly rare. See Universal I.

Paul Moxon

(1910-42)

Composing Room Cylinders were the first series to be issued serial numbers (stamped directly on the bed), and thus can be accurately dated. This model employs several improvements: automatic cylinder trip; carriage-mounted ink rollers; and an angled feed board with a “sheet hopper” which guides paper to automatic under-cylinder grippers. The No. 17, which can accommodate 17 × 25″ forms, is the most common example. There are about a dozen Composing Room Cylinders in the Vandercook census.

The 219 Proving Machine, now referred to as the 219 Old Style, was replaced by the 219 New Style in 1948. It features power driven ink distribution, pedal cylinder trip, pedal activated grippers and two swing-out paper shelves under the feed board. Optional equipment included an automatic frisket tower assembly. Maximum form: 18 × 24″; maximum sheet: 19 ¾ × 26″. Three dozen 219 Proving Machines are listed in the Vandercook census.

The No. 0 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: 12½ × 25″; maximum sheet: 12¾ × 27″  There are less than twenty No. 0 office presses in the Vandercook gravity press census, but it is likely that more are in use. See the 01, 03 and 099.

Designed for proofing newspaper pages, the hand-cranked 320G features an ink slab and form rollers behind the cylinder, which come to rest under the feed board. Optional automatic sheet delivery and ink fountain were originally available. Maximum sheet: 20 × 30″; maximum form: 19 × 24½”. There are two dozen 320G presses listed in the Vandercook census. See 325A, 325G.

The No. 3 looks similar to the No. 4, but with the very important difference and it has non-motorized handwheel ink distribution and automatic grippers. The latter “feature” means that it lacks a gripper pedal, and requires the operator to roll the carriage forward to raise the grippers, then roll carriage back to meet the paper. The cabinet and cylinder trip lever was redesigned in 1938. A .070″ cylinder undercut and traveling sheet delivery tray is standard. Maximum form: 14 × 18″; maximum sheet: 14 ¾ × 20″. There are sixty No. 3  presses in the Vandercook census.

This press is a redesign of the 219 Old Style introduced in 1927. Power driven ink distribution and two swing-out paper shelves under the feed board was standard. Optional features included an adjustable bed and power carriage and automatic frisket/tapes tower  Thus, the new style 219 NS may be further designated as 219 AB, 219 P or 219 AB P. Maximum form: 18 × 24″; maximum sheet: 18 ¾ × 28″. In all, there are nearly 50 hand-cranked 219s and a half dozen power carriage models listed in the Vandercook census.

The 15-21 was the last model to feature the old-style removable top frame oscillator and bottom frame form rollers and the first to include a automatic wash up unit, a doctor blade that squeegees solvent-diluted ink from the ink drum. Standard equipment included an adjustable bed and adjustable travel cylinder trip. Options such as the ink feed and “Sprayset” ink setting system typically no longer function due to neglect. Maximum form: 14 ½ × 21″; maximum sheet: 15 ¼ × 23″. There are nineteen 15-21 presses in the Vandercook census.

The Universal I is member of the Universal series, which introduced the “quick change” form roller assembly where each one is independently set into brackets inside the carriage with height adjustment knobs on the ends of the core. This frameless design eliminated the need to adjust the front and back roller on each side in tandem as on earlier models, such as the No. 3, No. 4 and 219. Only the rear form roller contacting the ink drum has a gear. The oscillator and a single rider are mounted on the carriage on arms that swing up and away from the form rollers for cleaning. Power ink distribution and an automatic wash up unit was standard. Optional features included an adjustable bed, variable-speed power carriage and a tower for registration tapes or an automatic frisket roll, ink fountain and ink monitor. Maximum form: 13 × 22″; maximum sheet: 15¼ × 24″. More than 200 Universal I presses are listed in the Vandercook census. The Universal II was only in production for a short time and few very are known. See Universal III.

The SP20, a larger version of the SP15, was specifically designed to print 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. The SP20 features the “quick change” rollers introduced with the Universal series. The gripper bar (simpler and lighter than earlier models) is the same style found on later Universals. Power ink distribution and automatic wash up unit was standard. Maximum form :19 × 26″; maximum sheet: 19½ × 28″. More than 140 SP20 presses are listed in the Vandercook census. See also SP15 and SP25.