Willtype

I created this collage as an homage to my Dad.  He worked as a printer his whole life.  He was a professional linotype operator.  Here is a photo of a linotype:

This cumbersome and heavy machine was used to create iron slugs that were then packed into printing boxes, ultimately becoming something like a huge metal 'stamp' to print words and pictures.  The iron was melted in a pot which was part of the machine, so it was very hot.  My Dad knew how to take this entire machine apart and put it back together again!  It's hard to believe that before the age of the computer, this was the most modern and up-to-date way to print.  The keyboard, which can be seen hanging from the front of the machine, had a very non-traditional keyboard.  It was nothing at all like the qwerty keyboard that we use today.  The keys were laid out like this:

My Dad retired right around the time that computers were taking the place of linotype machines and other more manual methods of printing.  When he was in his late 70's, he purchased his first computer.  He had one big problem though - the keyboard!  Having used the linotype keyboard his entire working life, the computer forced him to use a keyboard that looked completely foreign to him.  Some people say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but my Dad did not believe that.  He set a goal of learning to type with a qwerty keyboard, and mastering the computer.

When he got his first email account, his email name was "Willtype."  My Dad's name is William, but what he meant by that was, "I will type."  He did master the qwerty keyboard and spent many hours working with his computer until macular degeneration made it too difficult for him to see the screen.

For my collage,I used a photograph of a Woodstock typewriter that I own. I'm thankful that my Dad did not have to type on this machine!  My Mother learned to type on a typewriter like this; but I have been fortunate enough to have always had an electric typewriter - and now computer keyboard. 

I used a scrap piece of a printing plate to cut the rectangular embellishment on my card and then embossed it and used StaZon Saddle Brown ink on it.