Cut your own wood type using the tools, patterns, and processes perfected by the Hamilton Manufacturing Company! Participants will get hands-on experience in each of the wood typecutting stages, going from wood half-round to finished type that is ready to print. 

Participants will work with end-grain maple from Hamilton's holdings, and will cut type on original Hamilton pantograph machines. Participants will also see the process for shellacking maple half-rounds, and hear about the historic process for harvesting, curing, and planing the half-rounds. 

After pantographing, participants will trim-saw their pieces of type before hand-finishing their type sorts with files, knives, and punches. Lastly, the type sorts will be carbon-proofed and oiled. Each participant will come away from the workshop with 3-5 pieces of their own wood type.  

Date & Time: 
Saturday, March 9, 2024, 9am – 4pm Central

Location:
Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, 1816 10th Street, Two Rivers, WI 54241

Workshop Cost: 
$175 Total

Experience Level:
Participants must be 18 or older. It is advisable that participants have previous experience working with stationary radial power saws and general knowledge of machine shop safety. 

Instructor: Georgianne Liesch is the Master Typecutter at the Hamilton Museum of Wood Type & Printing, having apprenticed with Mardell Doubek (Hamilton typecutter) and learning Wood Shop techniques and history from her father Norb Brylski (Hamilton Wood Shop employee). She has cut type at Hamilton for over 10 years. 

Co-Instructor: Jen Anne is a typecutter at Hamilton, having apprenticed with Georgianne. She has been at Hamilton since 2019, and has cut type there for over 3 years. 

Everyone breaks for lunch at the same time. Options include purchasing a lunch for $15, bringing your own lunch (a refrigerator is available), or choosing a local restaurant. Clean-up begins at 3 pm and the day finishes up at 4 pm. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothes that may get ink on them. Because of the nature of the pressroom and the pieces being used, participants in the workshop must be 18 years or older.

The cost is $175 with all materials provided by the museum. Space is limited, so reservations and a $90 non-refundable deposit are required. Please complete the registration form below to reserve your place. The $85 balance is due at the beginning of the workshop. Cash, credit cards and checks are acceptable.

If you have any questions please e-mail us at info@woodtype.org or call 920-794-6272.