type id

I was just looking in the want ad’s and seen a posting wanting some type. The poster “Washboard” doesn’t know what it is and I have never seen it before either does any know what it is? Please take a look and comment if u have any idea’s

Thx jeff

Log in to reply   8 replies so far

I found this in Hamilton #14, but it’s a condensed version. I’m sure someone far more knowledgeable will pop up with the full ID.

image: no 69.png

no 69.png

Whatever it happens to be, the best solution for Washboard would probably be to take the artwork they have there and have Owosso or a similar operation make them a die. It is nice to have the actual type, but not really necessary.

DGM

I agree. It is likely a 19th century casting and the chances of finding any of that face in that size are about zero. Get a good deep cut made by Owosso.

Out of curiosity, what does the pin mark on the three pieces of original type look like or say??????

Rick

There is no pin mark on them. We believe they r cast from a wood type? They r steel cast.

Very interesting, as a lot of people have no clue that there was iron type out there. The iron or steel type was sand-cast using wood type as the mold. I have several fonts of iron type - all basically iron copies of wood type fonts.

This type was specifically created to print on cloth surfaces - cotton feed sacks, etc. - because the rough texture of the cloth would have normally worn-out lead and wood type in nothing flat.

At least that’s the story I got from Jimmy Yarnell in Wichita, Kansas many years ago. Jim had a boatload of iron type back in the day.

Rick

Thx, that’s cool. We r very intressed in learning about what we have and why we have it. The type was used to press the name on the wooden washboard in this case. We also have many copper or brass logo’s as well as rubber and zinc.

That sounds right as the iron/steel type would have been well-suited to print on the wood.

Rick

Jeff, I have a fount of 5 line wood type that matches your sample. I found the name in Rob Roy Kelly’s book on wood type. He calls it a Tuscan Egyptian. It could be that your type is a sand casting using wood type as a pattern. I hope this helps. Howard H