The Museum of Printing is a national treasure

Tucked away in a colonial-style building with a small bell tower in a bucolic town north of Boston is one of the last major historical collections of printing and typesetting in the Western Hemisphere. Most people do not even know that it exists.

The Museum of Printing houses an extensive set of Washington hand presses, Gordon and other job presses, plus Kelseys, Pearls, Kelly Bs, and a Heidelberg Windmill. There is an 1870’s Hoe rotary press and a Whitlock with four chases of locked up pages -- the last newspaper printed by letterpress in New England -- are you ready for this -- in 2004.

There is a working Linotype (plus one of the first Mergenthaler Band machines and an Elektron, one of the last Linos). The rare ATF Unitype is joined by Monotypes, Ludlows, and the largest library of Ludlow mats in any museum. Cases and cases of metal and wood type are also on display.

Continue reading your article
with a WhatTheyThink membership.

WhatTheyThink Annual Membership

Less than $4/week.

Get unlimited access to in-depth commentary and analysis covering the latest trends, emerging technologies, operational strategies, and key events across every segment of today's printing industry.

Stay informed. Stay competitive. Stay ahead.

WhatTheyThink Day Pass

$5 for 24 hours

Unlimited access to all of WhatTheyThink. Get your Day Pass

Already a member?

About Frank Romano

Frank Romano has spent over 60 years in the printing and publishing industries. Many know him best as the editor of the International Paper Pocket Pal or from the hundreds of articles he has written for publications from North America and Europe to the Middle East to Asia and Australia. Romano lectures extensively, having addressed virtually every club, association, group, and professional organization at one time or another. He is one of the industry's foremost keynote speakers. He continues to teach courses at RIT and other universities and works with students on unique research projects.