Description
Antique, c. 1920-30 Hamilton Manufacturing Co.,
Printer's 48-Drawer Typeset Cabinet
FULL of Thousands of Typeface Letters and Spacers This 48-drawer typesetter cabinet was made by Hamilton Manufacturing Company of Two Rivers, Wisconsin in the early 20th century. Composed of solid wood, with segmented wooden drawers for the compositor to keep each font/size and sorts organized. The work surface (also known as a ledge) is slanted so the typesetter could lay out type and compose lines at a comfortable angle and reach cases quickly. Measurements
Overall: 26"D x 60"H x 72"W
Base Cabinets: 22.5"D x 42.5"H x 70.25"W
Work Surface (Slant-Top Upper Section): 26"D x 17.25"H x 72"W Condition: Solid construction. All drawers present. Finish shows scuffs, dings and scratches as expected with age and use. About: In an age when news travels instantly across the internet, the historical significance of typesetting and letterpress shop work becomes even more striking. These workshops were once the engines of public communication—places where skilled compositors assembled each letter by hand, shaping the flow of information one line at a time. The deliberate pace of letterpress production fostered a culture in which accuracy, craftsmanship, and editorial judgment were central, because every printed word required physical labor and material cost. Seen from the perspective of today’s rapid-fire news cycle, letterpress shops remind us of a time when the creation of information demanded patience, precision, and intention—and they serve as a counterbalance to the speed, impermanence, and overwhelming volume of digital media.
FULL of Thousands of Typeface Letters and Spacers This 48-drawer typesetter cabinet was made by Hamilton Manufacturing Company of Two Rivers, Wisconsin in the early 20th century. Composed of solid wood, with segmented wooden drawers for the compositor to keep each font/size and sorts organized. The work surface (also known as a ledge) is slanted so the typesetter could lay out type and compose lines at a comfortable angle and reach cases quickly. Measurements
Overall: 26"D x 60"H x 72"W
Base Cabinets: 22.5"D x 42.5"H x 70.25"W
Work Surface (Slant-Top Upper Section): 26"D x 17.25"H x 72"W Condition: Solid construction. All drawers present. Finish shows scuffs, dings and scratches as expected with age and use. About: In an age when news travels instantly across the internet, the historical significance of typesetting and letterpress shop work becomes even more striking. These workshops were once the engines of public communication—places where skilled compositors assembled each letter by hand, shaping the flow of information one line at a time. The deliberate pace of letterpress production fostered a culture in which accuracy, craftsmanship, and editorial judgment were central, because every printed word required physical labor and material cost. Seen from the perspective of today’s rapid-fire news cycle, letterpress shops remind us of a time when the creation of information demanded patience, precision, and intention—and they serve as a counterbalance to the speed, impermanence, and overwhelming volume of digital media.
