A couple friends and myself were granted access to / given a guided tour of the iconic Hamilton Manufacturing Plant in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Yes, i know, name drop. Well, this place is fully secured, rigged up with cameras and has a 24/7 guard on duty. I wouldn't recommend trying this location without permission.
We definitely didn't get to see as much as we would've liked; probably only 1/8 of the place. It is pretty damn gigantic.


History:
J.E. Hamilton Holly Wood Type Company (later known as the Hamilton Scientific Company) was founded by James Edward Hamilton in 1880 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Hamilton was a skilled woodworker who specialized in making wood type for the printing industry. The factory initially produced a veneer wood type using Holly Wood instead of maple because it was half as costly and could be cut thin and glued to cheap pine. Eventually the company switched over to the rock maple that was abundant in the Wisconsin forests.

During the 19th century, newspapers were beginning to pop up everywhere. This helped Hamilton’s company flourish. The newspapers were in need of type, and purchasing it from the east was far too expensive, which allowed the newspapers to turn to Hamilton’s company in the Midwest. With this accomplishment, Hamilton’s company boomed with the Midwest and became a staple in the country's wood type industry.

With the prosperity of the company growing rapidly, it was able to begin producing other products. They began to specialize in type used in dental and medical offices and schools. They began manufacturing drafting tables and furnishings, and even the first ever mass produced gas-powered clothes dryer. The dryer was such a huge hit that Hamilton began to produce dryers not only to sell in their name but for other companies as well.

With all the company’s success, it went through a few name changes. The first being Hamilton Wood Type Manufacturing, and the most recent, Hamilton Scientific Company. Today it is most known for producing laboratory furniture and fume hoods.

The factory in Two Rivers unfortunately closed its doors in September 2012. Although the factory has closed, its history remains alive with the Hamilton Wood Type Museum. The museum houses thousands of different types and patterns. It even has some of the original flooring and machinery on display, which was once used in the factory itself. The museum is dedicated to preserving the production and printing of wood type, to carry on the legacy that the Hamilton Wood Type factory was known and loved for.


And now for some photos!:
A beautiful art-deco office building, added later in the company's life.
1.


Numerous building additions were built over time to accommodate the rapid growth of the company.
2.


3.


The Plant now sits empty, waiting for reuse or demolition.
4.


5.


6.


7.


8.


9.


Power/maintenance room, which i would've liked to poke around.
10.


A fantastic freight elevator.
11.


Just a small chunk of the behemoth of a factory.
12.


Don't forget the second, completely unnecessary padlock!
13.


14.


Some original wood type displayed on the outside of a portion of the factory, once used as the home for the original Hamilton Wood Type Museum.
15.


Super rad water tower i really wanted to climb. Maybe one day.
16.


Thanks for lookin'!

Awesome!

Love the history!

Thanks! This place was pretty rad!