Welcome to Howard Iron Works - Printing Museum and Antique Printing Machinery Restoration

Howard Iron Works - Printing and Bookbinding Equipment Restoration and Printing Museum

At any given time, our Restoration Team works on several projects simultaneously. For historical and archival purposes, our HIW photographer diligently takes pictures during the restoration and documents the various processes each machine is being put through. We have compiled the photos in a photo gallery for each machine. We hope you enjoy them.

Click Gallery Index to view other Photo Galleries.

We offer our restoration services to others, and will also complete machines that can be either purchased or leased for use or as beautiful displays

For inquiries about our restoration services, please contact: info@howardironworks.org

The Vandercook proving press is easily the most popular and sought after proof press in the world. Robert Vandercook started manufacturing proof press in Chicago back in 1909. Dozens of models and variants were sold including one of the most popular models: the No. 4. This floor model incorporated inking rollers, underside ink oscillator (motor-driven), register stops in the cylinder and auto-impression on/off control. The No. 4 was built between 1935 and 1960.

Our proof press had been neglected and this meant many parts had to be fabricated in our machine shop. The extensive research and re-engineering on our No. 4 have finally been completed and we are successful to restore the press to look as good as when it left the Vandercook plant in 1948!

Featured here is the restoration of the 1948 Vandercook #4 Proving Press.

Printing Museum and Restoration	800 Westgate Road Oakville, ON L6L 5N2 Tel. (905) 821-0000 Email: info@howardironworks.org Website: www.howardironworks.org	- The Collection - Restoration - HIW Museum - Lease/Sales Program	- Antique Books & Periodicals - About HIW - Volunteering Opportunities - Museum Shop