Fonds DEL - Delittle Wood Letter Manufacturers

Identity area

Reference code

DEL

Title

Delittle Wood Letter Manufacturers

Date(s)

  • 1888-1998 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

6 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

(1888-1998)

Administrative history

The firm was founded as the Eboracum Letter Factory in 1888 by Robert Duncan Delittle and was originally on Railway Street (now George Hudson Street). It moved to purpose built premises in Vine Street in the early 20th century and at the height of its success employed 28 people in the manufacture of high quality large wooden printing type. It closed in 1997 and the building was pulled down. Delittle Court was built in its place.

The wood type manufacturer was known for their unique production of 'White-Letter' they named 'Eboracum' after the Roman name for York. Starting in 1940, DeLittle also cut wood type for Stephenson Blake, the leading type foundry in the United Kingdom.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Includes cash books, balance sheets, bills paid, order books and completed orders, petty cash book and sheets, account book and cash receipts, papers regariding sale of the works, structural report, photographs, specimen letter type books, advertising materials, historical information and published histories. Also includes partnership contracts, sample wood border sheets, business cards, letter from R Delittle, Wayzgoose booklets and editions of DEFCO, the staff magazine.

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open

Material is available subject to the usual terms and conditions of access to Archives and Local History collections.

Conditions governing reproduction

Images are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Explore York

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Material is held at the Print Museum in London.

    Related descriptions

    Publication note

    Copyright is held by CYC, with the exclusion of the rights in the Delittle typefaces themselves. Permission to exploit the typefaces should be referred to the donor.

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

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    Accession area