Wood type collectors/enthusiasts

Hello all,

My last experience with getting help from everyone with some newly acquired wood type really ignited my interest in both learning more, and getting more wood type for my shop. Of particular interest was the fact that I lived 23 miles from the original Page wood type location, and not much more from the Tubbs manufacturing location. I couldn’t help but think living so close to the original sources might be an advantage in finding more early wood type. I have a brother in law that lives on Mowry Ave (William Page had a partner named Samuel Mowry!) in Norwich, CT and when we were there for Thanksgiving I asked where the Greenville section was as that is where the first Page building was located. He said it was right down the hill from the house. During my search for type, I located a print shop that was willing to sell some “old type” and after a phone call to arrange a meeting, I headed for the address he gave guided by my GPS. The closer I got, the closer I was to my brother in laws house. I realized just before arrival at the shop that it was located in the Greenville section. This only served to heighten my anticipation of what I might find. I arrived and after getting to know each other a bit was shown the cabinet. It was a handmade one, with cases that were without handles and looked quite old. I pulled out each drawer and looked for the capital A’s having learned from the helpful list that if there was a makers mark, it would be located there. Many were unmarked, but, after awhile found some Page and some American W.T. & Co. (Tubbs). I am so new to this area I really don’t know the desirability of this, but, it sure appealed to me. I negotiated a price and purchased the entire cabinet. The type has now been removed from the original cases, cleaned and organized in my own wood type storage cabinet. I thought I might ask those of you that like to identify type to help me with the task. I have tried, but, have left off my id from the pictures to not influence anyone. I do list the makers mark if one exists, and the size. Any comment is also welcome. It would be helpful to know if some are more desirable than others as well. The flickr slideshow is located here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49638884@N03/sets/72157628363191559/show/ If you click the “show info” the markings and size will show. Or, you can click the “back to the wood type edited set” in the upper left corner and manually click through the pictures.

Regards,

John

Log in to reply   9 replies so far

Whoa!

You hit the motherlode of wood type, what with the Connecticut connection and all. The best type-buying experiences are infused with the thrill of the chase, and your story is filled to the brim. I imagine you did not pay e-bay resellers pricing, either. It would be hard to contain myself in your situation — the most extreme case of adrenalin flowing through one’s system while retaining some semblance of composure and dignity to be able to seal the deal.

Whoa!

Come now, sir, you just posted this to make us all jealous. And you have succeeded. ;-)

(I am sure in your shoes, I would have ended up paying 13 times the original asking price after weeping, panting, and otherwise unmasking the true depth of my type-lust.)

Woot Woot John…..you lucky dog!!! I love those “and’s”.. can you send those along with my Golding chase????!!!!! I too have some beautiful Page wood type that I discovered right here in Colorado. Enjoy.

Great find, John. Congratulations! I have almost null experience IDing wood type, but looks like an awesome collection.
Here’s my latest find.. not so much to brag about. But very nice nevertheless.

Enjoy your new type!

Armchair, I paid what the seller wanted but it was not what is happening on Ebay. It was very fair I think. As much as I am attracted to it, I as yet do not really know how universally desirable it is. Hence this post.

Sorry Clothdog! I have not seen these styles much when looking on Ebay. It often seems to be Hamilton made Gothic but I was really attracted to this stuff and it made me think I was looking at something I should not pass up. I do think it was a find that I will not be able to repeat.

Cabinpress, I know you have waited a long time for your chase. I think I am going to be able to get it next Saturday.

JF

That’s just ridiculous.

I’ll get my coat…

Beautiful type, congratulations on the find.

Big grins,

Casey
iLP

What is nice about your find, John, is that the fonts seem complete. I find that this happened in small print shops, where the owner & his family were the only employees. I, too, have found a close connection to the Connecticut wood-type makers and I once found a few fonts right next door to a home that I lived-in, as a high school kid, in Milford, CT. I am away from home, at present, but I will try to identify most of your fonts when I return home, tomorrow.
Dave Greer

Dave,

Thanks for your offer! I value it immensely. Just as you indicated, this was a small shop and the type handed down from generation to generation. This seems to be one of those subjects that real definitive information is hard to come by. I can’t imagine how difficult it might be if it not for the Rob Roy Kelly book. Even with it, many questions are difficult to answer. Why is some type not marked and yet can be attributed to a certain maker? How unusual is it to find a half line pica example? How old is the handcut Grecian example and is it more prized than machine made? I look foreward to communicating with you.

JF