Hence, the name.  Of course, the double entendre is intentional.  While ostensibly referring to the hand-crank on the press that propels all words into print, there are any number of reasons that can make the press cranky.   Aside from the mysterious and never-ending “make-ready” process (enough to make any newbie grumpy!), there’s the tetchy nature of press itself.  Like most sexagenarians, its parts are creaky and stiff – and it needs plenty of cajoling and warm-up exercise before it can settle down to work.    Indeed some of its parts were missing entirely, leaving the proprietor to puzzle and ponder about what exactly was missing, and how to replace it.  Happily, an operator’s manual was found (thanks to Paul Moxon’s excellent  Vandercook site and accompanying VanderBlog), and with assistance of a resourceful and imaginative spouse, the press’s ailments have been mostly remedied.