Block Leveller

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Block leveller &

Type Planners

The Block leveller was created by Horace W Hacker. His patent filled in 1924. Its use, milling stock to type high .918″. Produced by his firm, Hacker Manufacturing, (Horace Hacker Co) they were bought out in 1937 by Vandercook & Sons. The rebadged Hacker, was named the Vandercook Block leveller and its design was then licensed out to F.A.G for the European market.

The Block Leveller is powered by a two-motor system that operates on three-phase power. One motor spins the bed, while the other drives the planer head. The planer head follows one spiral path, terminating at the axis of the bed. Another spiral path commences at the edge of the bed, its convolutions intervening between the convolutions of the first spiral path. The planer blades follows the second spiral path, cleaning up the chatter left behind from its first spiral path. This innovative system allowed for a more efficient and precise milling process, which is why the machines became a staple in the printing industry. Hundreds of these machines were made over the years. However, after the commercial decline of letterpress, most of them were discarded, with very few surviving examples known left today.

Database Of Levellers

New in 1962 it cost £2805. The price of the average house in the uk.

At todays rate £48,195. The cost of a typical UK home is £281,272

There are currently thirteen known to have survived, nine of them in the United States. One in England

Four Polytypes, in Europe. If you know of any hiding please drop a message.

NO	Brand/Model	Serial number	Studio/Location
1	F.A.G – BL.45	3207016	*
2	Vandercook – 11-B.L.	15006	Gurzopress – USA, New Jersey
3	TBC (Broken)	TBC	Letterpress Depot – USA, Colorado
4	TBC	TBC	The International Printing Museum – USA, California
5	Vandercook – 11-B.L.	18590	Virgin Wood Type – USA, Rochester
6	Hacker (modified)	16894	Moore Wood Type – USA, Ohio
7	Vandercook – 11-B.L.	TBC	The Red Door Press – USA, Iowa
8	TBC	TBC	(Private) USA, Cincinnati
9	TBC	TBC	(Private) USA, NYC
10	Vandercook – 11-B.L. (XL)	Lost	Tivoli Press – UK, Gloucestershire
11	F.A.G	TBC	Tiporenesansa – Slovenia
12	Vandercook – 10	9862	J Finch (Machinist) – USA, Palmer Lake, Colorado
13	F.A.G	TBC	Imprimerie Nationale (IN Groupe)

Polytype Levellers

NO	Brand	Serial number	Studio/Location
1	Polytype PF 63	5021	Baby Ink Twice, Switzerland
2	Polytype V72	11306	Museum Der Arbeit, Germany, Hamburg
3	Polytype	TBC	Bland Typer & Tryck
4	Polytype	TBC	Hacking Gutenberg

The Polytype PF 63 does not have a powered bed like the Hacker design. It does have a vacuum connected to the planner head.

PDF Manual

vandercook-manual-1 Download

Leveller Gallery

Parts List

Replaceable Parts:	Item number	Description
Drive Belt	AX63	Cogged V Belt

Mill Ends

Spindle Case

Reproducing New Spindle Case

With the assistance of Aberlink Ltd, based in Gloucestershire, a highly detailed STEP file was created. Aberlink specializes in manufacturing Coordinate Measuring Machines. A CMM is a high-precision metrology instrument used to measure the physical dimensions and geometry of objects with exceptional accuracy.

Similar to a game console, the machine can be operated using a joystick, allowing it to move in all directions. CMMs are equipped with various types of probes, which are produced by another local company, Renishaw. These probes can be magnetically attached to the machine, enabling quick changes based on the specific job requirements and providing protection against damage in the event of a collision. The stylus tip at the end of the probe is made from synthetic ruby, chosen for its hardness, smoothness, and resistance to abrasion. For materials prone to adhesive wear, such as aluminum, a higher-density tungsten carbide stylus is used. Additionally, a camera system can be attached to the stylus mount for scanning profiles and inspecting the condition of parts.

The machine’s top gantry slides along precisely milled ways and is driven by linear motors, eliminating the need for traditional bearings that could wear out and compromise precision. During manufacture, the gantry’s flatness is meticulously measured, and any imperfections are corrected through software calibration, ensuring optimal accuracy. Parts are mounted either on a fixture kit or directly on the granite surface plate, which provides a stable, flat surface due to granite’s low thermal expansion. It is recommended that the CMM operates in a controlled environment with stable temperature and humidity, particularly in highly specialised settings like aerospace manufacturing facilities.

The CMM collects a series of data points using a touch probe, capturing measurements at various locations around the object. These measurements are recorded within a three-dimensional coordinate system (X, Y, and Z), offering micron-level precision. The machine uses this data to calculate surface topology, enabling part comparisons or the creation of a detailed 3D STEP file.

For the Vandercook spindle case, which had broken in two, modeling the part posed a unique challenge. Aligning or welding the broken sections would distort the precision required. To overcome this, Ian at Aberlink measured the spindle’s outer dimensions to accurately determine the inner dimensions of the case, ensuring the STEP file was as precise as possible.