Once treated, clean and fully dry the letters and cabinet to prevent the problem reoccurring. If you find any discolouring of letters or spores (dark grey / blue in colour – with dry / wet rot leaving white or black deposits) you must remove the letters from the case, clean and apply a fungicidal treatment immediately. Moisture and high levels of humidity can have a negative impact on wood type, resulting in the worst instances of fungicidal attack. please note this process will impact of the nuances of the original design and is only carried out as a last resource. This type of damage is difficult to repair, but in certain instances the letters can be sanded beyond the damage (making the letter edges square again) and re-packing to type height. More common with on-line auctions where the type has been ‘restored’ or aggressively cleaned by a dealer rather than a printer. But also, can be a contemporary condition bought about through the poor practice of hand sanding. Rounding at the edges of the letter reduces definition and can be a result of a long periods of wear or compression. Remember wood is a natural material and lasts longest if cared for and fed. Keeping the letters hydrated through the process of inking and cleaning – feeding the wood. The best option, in this case is to regularly print with the letters. This usually occurs where cabinets of type have been relocated from cold workshops into centrally heated environments. Some people enjoy and like to celebrate the patina arising from wear but for the perfectionist it can be an issue and result in type not being selected for use.Ĭracking can be the result of type drying out and in the worst instances the letters splitting completely.
Wood letters are delicate, so detailed cleaning and careful storage is key to extending its working life. Dropping, mishandling or poor storage (with other items being positioned on the face of the letters) will result in some form of damage. Pitting, bruising, scratches, splits and dents, all cause inconsistencies in definition when printing. 85 and 87 Holborn Hill, Londonĭamage and wear are the most common issues with wood type. Caxton Letter Works, and Printing Manufactury.
The following references are set out to help inform owners of wood type about some of the things which will help increase its working life.Ībove: Hand finished wood type dating from about 1865 manufactured by W. The patina and wear will directly reflect the age of the letters, its use and how it has been handled and stored. The largest proportion of wood type in circulation will be a minimum of forty years old.
This makes anyone who is a custodian of wood type aware that they have a responsibility to take the best possible care of it – increasing the life of the type and maintaining it for future generations to use and enjoy. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to locate and due to its rising on-line value, has resulted in dealers separating out individual elements to maximise their profitability. Letterpress type manufactured from wood is a natural, delicate resource.
0 kommentar(er)
