Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Graphic in Nature : Hatch Show Print.
































































On a recent trip back home to Nashville(more on that later), I made a stop in to the legendary Hatch Show Print.
Started in 1879 by the sons of Reverend William T. Hatch, The history of the city has been printed by Hatch. A Hatch poster has that unmistakeable quality that is singular to the southern landmark that's been hand printing "dodgers" and posters for over a hundred and thirty years.
There's something unique to the hand cut Hatch typefaces, wood blocks and metal plates, many of them nearly as old as Hatch itself, that make each sheet printed there a literal page from history.
Watching the amount of work and true craftsmanship involved in the letterpress printing process is truly impressive. Everything is done by hand, from the setting to the inking, the cranking of any of the seven presses to the trimming. It should be at the top of your short list of things to see if you ever find yourself heading down that way. If not, check out the video below for a great look behind the counter at Hatch.



















Hatch Show Print
316 Broadway
Nashville, TN
(615)256-2805

1 comment:

Sean said...

great post, I need to make it down there at some point