Letters are turning up in the most surprising places nowadays. Fabrics and pillows use the printed word as pattern, subway and bus rolls adorn hip apartment walls, and fireplace mantels are staging grounds for large wooden letters. There’s even been a movie, Helvetica, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the typeface. Recent, dramatic changes in how words are communicated have created a nostalgic affection for the printed word. A visit to the Museum of Printing in North Andover helps to illustrate and clarify the evolution of the printed word through the physical timeline of printing equipment.
Photos by Kate Harper
Innovations in the past 20 years have created a revolution in the way information is exchanged. Personal computers, home scanners and printers, Blackberrys, iPhones, and, most importantly, the Internet have enabled the masses to communicate with great speed and ease. The once-tactile act of printing words onto the page is now performed soundlessly and electronically. Technological advances have increased efficiency at the expense of the formerly kinesthetic act of printing.
The museum begins its display with the Letterpress, a technology invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450. This revolutionary invention would begin to replace writing words by hand for commercial purposes and profoundly change the world by making it easier to exchange ideas. The Letterpress (think waffle iron) method remained dominant till the 1800s. Each improvement in technology would allow more words to reach more readers. Two large rooms are full of printing behemoths and the accompanying furniture used to store typeface. There is an industrial-chic quality to the vintage storage cabinets, and, in fact, one museum member had surplus cabinets installed in her kitchen. A third room has machines that will look more familiar: typesetters and early desktop computers.
Museum volunteer and board member John Barrett is one of several caretakers at the facility.
The museum is fortunate to have Rochester Institute of Technology Professor Frank Romano, world-renowned printing expert, as its president. Professor Romano is a natural-born teacher who is adept at breaking down complex technological concepts for the layman. His love of all things print-related is contagious and inspiring. The museum is more than a collection of equipment; members of the museum have been called upon to perform forensic analysis for court cases and television shows, as their knowledge of when specific print technology was in use often proves invaluable in answering many legal questions.
In delicate contrast to the museum’s imposing machinery collection are the woodblock prints of artist Mark T. Fowler. Using techniques perfected by the Japanese, these prints exemplify New England in both subject matter and color palette. The museum is currently working toward making these beautiful and local prints available for purchase in the future.
The Museum of Printing 800 Massachusetts Avenue North Andover
(978) 686-0450 www.MuseumofPrinting.org
The Writing’s on the Wall
Letters are turning up in the most surprising places nowadays. Fabrics and pillows use the printed word as pattern, subway and bus rolls adorn hip apartment walls, and fireplace mantels are staging grounds for large wooden letters. There’s even been a movie, Helvetica, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the typeface. Recent, dramatic changes in how words are communicated have created a nostalgic affection for the printed word. A visit to the Museum of Printing in North Andover helps to illustrate and clarify the evolution of the printed word through the physical timeline of printing equipment.
Photos by Kate Harper
Innovations in the past 20 years have created a revolution in the way information is exchanged. Personal computers, home scanners and printers, Blackberrys, iPhones, and, most importantly, the Internet have enabled the masses to communicate with great speed and ease. The once-tactile act of printing words onto the page is now performed soundlessly and electronically. Technological advances have increased efficiency at the expense of the formerly kinesthetic act of printing.
The museum begins its display with the Letterpress, a technology invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450. This revolutionary invention would begin to replace writing words by hand for commercial purposes and profoundly change the world by making it easier to exchange ideas. The Letterpress (think waffle iron) method remained dominant till the 1800s. Each improvement in technology would allow more words to reach more readers. Two large rooms are full of printing behemoths and the accompanying furniture used to store typeface. There is an industrial-chic quality to the vintage storage cabinets, and, in fact, one museum member had surplus cabinets installed in her kitchen. A third room has machines that will look more familiar: typesetters and early desktop computers.
Museum volunteer and board member John Barrett is one of several caretakers at the facility.
The museum is fortunate to have Rochester Institute of Technology Professor Frank Romano, world-renowned printing expert, as its president. Professor Romano is a natural-born teacher who is adept at breaking down complex technological concepts for the layman. His love of all things print-related is contagious and inspiring. The museum is more than a collection of equipment; members of the museum have been called upon to perform forensic analysis for court cases and television shows, as their knowledge of when specific print technology was in use often proves invaluable in answering many legal questions.
In delicate contrast to the museum’s imposing machinery collection are the woodblock prints of artist Mark T. Fowler. Using techniques perfected by the Japanese, these prints exemplify New England in both subject matter and color palette. The museum is currently working toward making these beautiful and local prints available for purchase in the future.
The Museum of Printing
800 Massachusetts Avenue North Andover
(978) 686-0450
www.MuseumofPrinting.org