Hamilton

image link-topic-sf0.jpg

1. Overview

1880-? Wood type. Two Rivers, WI. Acquired William H. Page

Hamilton was a wood type maker, and lovely as wood type is, my own interest is in metal type. So I won't really have much here. But there were exchanges of designs between wood and metal type makers, so an exposure to wood type is useful in the study of metal type.

2. Specimen Books

Actually, I've only got a few Hamilton catalogs (and not very rare ones at that). I haven't scanned them yet, so this is just a bibliography of pointers to other online and printed specimen reproductions.

Note that the Hamilton catalog numbers do not increase monotonically. E.g., Catalog No. 38 is from 1938, but Catalog No. 25 is from 1951.

In addition to the catalogs called out here, Unicorn Graphics lists but has not yet (2012) digitized a Hamilton Catalog No. 25 and a Hamilton Furniture catalog (Hamilton made both printers' "furniture" and regular office furniture, but I presume theirs is a printers' furniture catalog).

In addition to the Hamilton-specific catalogs noted here, Rob Roy Kelly's American Wood Type: 1828-1900 ("Notes on the Evolution of Decorated and Large Types and Comments on Related Trades of the Period") is essential to the study of all wood type.

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Specimens of Holly Wood Type (1884)

Specimens of Holly Wood Type (Hamilton and Katz, 1884.)

This specimen has been reprinted, with a new introduction, by David W. Peat. Printed by Richard L. Hopkins at his Pioneer Press of West Virginia. (2011, Paperback, 225x305mm; [ii] + 62)

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Hamilton's Wood Type. (1899)

Hamilton's Wood Type. Catalog No. 14. (Two Rivers, WI: Hamilton Manufacturing Co., 1899-1900).

Unicorn Graphics has digitized this specimen and presented it online in their Museum of Wood Types & Ornaments: http://www.unicorngraphics.com/wood%20type%20museum.asp

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Hamilton's Wood Type (1901)

Hamilton's Wood Type. (Two Rivers, WI: The Hamilton Manufacturing Co., n.d. [Silver Buckle catalog data says 1901]).

The Silver Buckle Press at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, has digitized this work from their collection: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/SilverBuckle.HamiltonWood

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Hamilton's Specimens of Wood Type Faces (ca. 1907)

Hamilton's Specimens of Wood Type Face. 17th Edition. (Two Rivers, WI: Hamilton Manufacturing Co., ca. 1907).

Reprinted by John Horn and Richard L. Hopkins (Little Rock, AR / Terra Alta, WV: Shooting Star Press / Pioneer Press of West Virginia). Paperback, 241x324mm; no pagination (about 250pp).

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Gothics and Wood Border (1926)

Gothics and Wood Border. (Two Rivers, WI: The Hamilton Manufacturing Co., 1926). (Dated 3-1-26.)

The Silver Buckle Press at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, has digitized this work from their collection: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/SilverBuckle.GothicsWood

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Hamilton Printing Plant Equipment (1920s)

Hamilton Printing Plant Equipment. (Two Rivers, WI: The Hamilton Manufacturing Co., 1922-1932). (Dates from the Silver Buckle catalog data. this is a collection of catalog sheets with various dates. I haven't checked them all, but many are 1926 and 1927.) This is an equipment catalog, not a type specimen book.

The Silver Buckle Press at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, has digitized this work from their collection: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/SilverBuckle.HamiltonPrinting

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Wood Type by Hamilton (1938) [Cat. 38]

Wood Type by Hamilton. Catalog 38. (Two Rivers, WI: The Hamilton Manufacturing Co., n.d. [1938]). This catalog is undated, but (a) the catalog number (38) suggests 1938 (this was a common enough convention) and (b) the catalog notes that Hamilton began supplying equipment "fifty-eight years ago this year"; Hamilton began in 1880.

The Silver Buckle Press at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, has digitized this work from their collection: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/SilverBuckle.WoodTypeHam

[TO DO: Scan my copy]

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Add "Punch" ... (1951) [Cat. 25]

Add "Punch" to your Printing with Hamilton Wood Type. Catalog No. 25 (Two Rivers, WI: The Hamilton Manufacturing Co., n.d. 1951).

The Silver Buckle Press at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, has digitized this work from their collection: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/SilverBuckle.Punch

Has a photograph of a Hamilton wood type pantographic router.

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Hamilton Printing Equipment (1957) [Cat. 28]

[TO DO: scan my copy] Hamilton Printing Equipment. Catalog No. 28. (Two Rivers, WI: Hamilton Manufacturing Co., 1957) This is an equipment catalog, not a type specimen book.

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Woodtype: Selective Emphasis... (1960)

Woodtype: Selective Emphasis for Fine Typography. (Two Rivers, WI: The Hamilton Manufacturing Co., n.d. 1960).

The Silver Buckle Press at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, has digitized this work from their collection: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/SilverBuckle.Woodtype

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Hamilton Printing Equipment (1966)

[TO DO: scan my copy] Hamilton Printing Equipment. (Two Rivers, WI: Hamilton Manufacturing Co., 1966). Wire-bound catalog, stiff covers; 215x278mm; 115pp. This is an equipment catalog, not a type specimen book.


Select Resolution: 0 [other resolutions temporarily disabled due to lack of disk space]