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Wood type is beautiful. It’s aesthetic qualities of wrinkles, flaws and tactile characteristics are unique to only real wood press. Typeface is a film that focuses on the convergence of modern design and traditional technique at the Hamilton Wood Type Museum is in rural Two Rivers, Wisconsin. It is home to over 1.5 million wood letterforms – all available to hold, touch, and use in printing workshops. As the film’s site describes, “the scenario at the Hamilton Museum illustrates an intriguing convergence: the historical transformation of a craft having evolved from a practical, commerce-driven commodity to an object of aesthetic inspiration and academic study.” Of course, most contemporary graphic designers can certainly appreciate and admire these beautiful artifacts and the work that they produce.
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The demand for wood type was originally fueled by Industrial Revolution posters who’s large type could not be metal. Wood type was incredibly effective in poster design where the objective was to simply be louder than the poster next to you. Unfortunately, offset lithography overthrew the press in the 60s because etched metal plates eliminated the need to set individual pieces of type. Although it’s lack of practicality made it obsolete, it seems to now be making a comeback thanks to the oversaturation of mass production. Society is now flat, and the touch of letterpress stands out again. I was amazed by the passion of the craftsmen in the film who describe letterpress as laborious, but very relaxing. Enthusiasts hoping to keep the practice of letterpress alive note that using a computer to mimic wood type style taints the entire process. It is simply not authentic. Computers are too fast and automated; handling type gives respect to details and design process.
The film made me sad for the uncertain future of wood type as it’s original craftsmen grow old, taking all the tradition and detailed practices with them. It is rather tragic seeing such a focus on computer generated work and design software over handcraft. The film definitely has, “great characters both wooden and human” as it takes an in-depth look at the lives and feelings of the craftsmen, artists, and design students. I would absolutely recommend this film to anyone interested in design, typography, or even American History. If only Wisconsin were a little closer…
Film site here.
Museum Site here.
For you: Ok, who out there has been to the Hamilton Wood Type Museum? Please tell me about the experience!
First of all, thanks to Courtney for discovering this gem and bringing it to everyone’s attention.
I happened across The Hamilton Wood Type Museum quite by accident two summers ago. I own a Mini Cooper and belong to a road rally club. At the time I was living in Sioux Falls, SD and the club had planned road trip to Chicago and back traveling only the scenic back roads. One of the other drivers said to me, “you’re into type and shit like that aren’t you?” Why yes, why do you ask, I say. He then tells me to take this side trip to Two Rivers, Wisconsin and visit the Hamilton Wood Type Museum.
What an amazing place this is. Wall to wall letter forms all carved from wood with a Pantograph machine and small chisels. If you remember the old public library card catalogues, imagine hundreds of these drawers filled with hand carved, ink stained letter forms. The presses, the carving machines and even the lumber used for the wooden letter forms is all in this building. And the best part is it’s still operational. Really quite amazing to see a four foot by two foot plank of wood with a raised letter form carved into it’s face being set into a press with ink. No scaling of vector graphics here, you need a large letter, you carve one if it isn’t already in a drawer someplace.
Along the walls are prints of actual work done on these machines. Posters, billboards, signage, you name it. All of it has this natural grunge effect that is not an effect at all but comes from the wood and ink as it is pressed on the paper. The best part of the visit was chatting with a an older gentleman named Norb. Norb is a true artisan and a master at hand carving letter forms. He probably has forgotten more about type setting than most of us will ever know. My only regret was that I was just passing through and could only do the tour. I would love to go back and take the workshop where you actually get to do what they do and use the presses to produce work. I’m sure my little description doesn’t begin to do justice to this wonderful place and the people who keep it going so if you’re ever in Milwaukee, Wisconsin The Hamilton Museum is about 90 miles north. If you care about fonts, typography and design you owe it to yourself and your craft to see this place.