Meet Our New Letterpress
October 10, 2021
Pike Street Press is growing!
Last month, we welcomed a new press to the shop: a 1959 Vandercook cylinder letterpress. We are excited to add this press to our collection of vintage letterpress printing machines. The Vandercook introduces an entirely new style of press that will enable us to print larger letterpress art prints and posters.
How does a Vandercook cylinder work?
Using a large hand-powered or electric cylinder, a print is created by rolling the cylinder over paper on a raised, inked plate or movable type. This cylinder design allows the press to print in a specific area where it rolls over the letterpress plate, enabling it to handle large-format prints with printed areas up to 17” x 22”—perfect for posters! In comparison, our Heidelberg Windmill presses can create printed areas up to 10” x 15”. Heidelbergs are designed for quick production of small letterpress prints, making them ideal for greeting cards, business cards, and wedding invitations. Want to see how your favorite prints are made? Follow us on Instagram for videos of the Vandercook in action.
What’s the history of Vandercook presses?
Back in September 1909, Robert Vandercook founded Vandercook & Sons in Chicago, Illinois. Vandercook & Sons would soon dominate the press industry by developing the first and most widely-used proof presses that did not rely on gravity for the force of their impression— making the printing process much more consistent and precise. Vandercook letterpress machines were manufactured between 1909 and 1976. Today, they are still some of the most sought-after machines in the industry. Our new press came to us from a small commercial print shop in Los Angeles. The shop was picked up by the International Printing Museum in Carson, CA, where they then sold it to us. If you’re ever in the LA area we suggest checking it out.
Why are we so pumped to have one?
Using our new Vandercook press, we will be able to create custom art prints and grow our inventory of unique, handcrafted posters. Thanks to our wonderful and loyal customers, we hope to be Seattle’s finest producer of high-quality prints and posters.
