The Antique You Need To Beautifully Display Your Trinkets

While today we take typing's ease for granted, publishing evolved thanks to the innovations of printers trays and typesetting. Over time, the wooden trays used to collect metal typesetting accessories or blocks have become a hot item for interior design lovers. Also known as a typesetting drawer or letterpress tray, these beautiful pieces combine style and function, with multiple compartments (drawers) and intersecting spaces sometimes reinforced with a series of metal cross bars. In this renaissance, the wooden trays find new life, holding small, treasured trinkets in homes.

The invention of the printing press for commercial use occurred in 1454, but the technology became more commercially accessible in the 19th century for American publishers and newspapers. Printers would set metal blocks (sorts) – each carved with a series of uppercase and lowercase letters and punctuation marks — into a device known as a composing stick. They would then house the blocks within the tray's compartments, sorting them by letter or into a collection of letters. The industry flourished, growing to as many as 4,000 companies across the United States, but with the ease of desktop publishing, many companies ceased operations or switched to new ventures. Over time, a resurgence of interest in the trays began when collectors started snapping them up. A 1984 Home and Garden piece by The New York Times was likely among the first publications to report on the tray's shift from a utilitarian castoff to a prized collector piece. With renewed interest in these antiques, you may wonder how to find them and use them for display. Consider these tips so you can make these relics a centerpiece of your home.

As you decide your space needs a typesetting tray, you can begin searching for one through second-hand sellers. Browsing in person will let you hold and touch the tray, as well as offer an up-close look at its condition. These collectibles are brimming with historic charm and character, so it's a treat if you're able to view them to see any dents, chips, and other well-worn hints of their past lives. You may also browse on websites like eBay, Etsy, and 1stDibs, searching terms like "wooden printer's tray" and "letterpress drawer," as some sellers might use these interchangeably. When using this route, your glimpse is limited to only photos the seller provides, however, so carefully scrutinize all pictures before buying. Regardless of where you shop, prepare to pay a range of prices depending on the vendor's knowledge, the tray's size, and its popularity among collectors. You're wise to anticipate paying anywhere from $25 to $100, or higher, based on these factors.

As you search for authentic printing trays, examine them for signs indicating it's a genuine piece. You can authenticate these thrift finds by looking for any manufacturer markings on the wood. Popular names in the letterpress industry include Hamilton, Thompson Cabinet Factory, Ludlow Typograph Company, and American Type Founders. Look for other signs of the piece's provenance and history, including well-worn handles and dovetail joints, two features meant to support the wood, and the weight of the various block types.

After buying your printer's tray, years of dust and grime likely obscure the wood, so cleaning is the first step. With a soft toothbrush and a few drops of Murphy's Wood Oil, thoroughly clean the crevices of each drawer. This all-natural wood-cleaning ingredient is powerful yet gentle. After cleaning, you can treat the wood with varnish, applying it with a small, thin paintbrush. Some collectors love to paint these pieces, while others prefer to keep the wood's natural grain. If painting, be sure you seal the wood well to protect the color.

Treated and cleaned, the printer drawer is now ready for its next life within your home. If you want to hang it, carefully install D-rings or mirror plates, screwing them fully into the wood. Make sure your chosen hanger can easily support the tray's weight, or else you might hear it crash down in the night! If hanging isn't an option, consider propping it against the wall or setting it upright on a large floating shelf. A few clever crafters even repurpose these antiques into tables, with a piece of glass over the compartments and the bottom fitted with legs. However you style it, the drawers' varied sizes let you store a variety of small objects. You will find the versatility of these trays unmatched, perfect for tiny toys within the playroom, shells or fossils in the study, and a genius organization hack for thread in the craft room.