The 2016 American Typecasting Fellowship August 11-14, 2016 In The Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Co-hosted by Wells Book Arts Center and the Bixler Letterfoundry

Pertinent Information

Principal Location

This year’s Conference will be staged in the Finger Lake Region of Upstate New York. The most central location is Auburn, New York, and from that location we will be traveling to three principal locations: Skaneateles, Aurora, and Rochester.

Traveling Distances

Auburn, N. Y., to Aurora. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Approximately 18 miles
Auburn, N. Y., to Skaneateles . . . . . . . . . . . .Approximately 8 miles
Auburn, N. Y., to Rochester. . . . . . . . . . . .  Approximately 64 miles
Auburn, N. Y., to Syracuse. . . . . . . . . . . . .  Approximately 26 miles

Getting Around

Once you have reviewed the schedule, you will realize there will be traveling involved. To minimize the number of vehicles at any given location, it is strongly recommended that you network with other Conference attendees and carpool wherever possible. We will have an online ride-share board where you can indicate if you have room in your vehicle and can offer a ride, or if you need a ride, you can connect with a vehicle to get you where you need to go.

Conference Registration

You may register on-line at https://squareup.com/store/wells-college-press/item/atf-conference-registration  The fee is $125.00 per registrant and includes all meals mentioned below. Technical Sessions will be additional, $25.00 per session. Details will be found below. If you are more comfortable with registering by mail, kindly send a check out to: Wells Book Arts Center (attn:ATF Conference) 170 Main St, Aurora, NY 13026).

Lodging

While there is no “official hotel” for the Conference, we will be hosting the Saturday evening dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn, at Auburn  and they have given a conference rate of $189 per night(use code ATF810 when booking.) The Hilton Garden has plenty of lobby area including an outdoor patio and this will function as the general gathering and meeting area each evening.

Other lodging is available at various hotels and motels in the Auburn, N. Y., area. The Finger Lakes region in August is a popular destination for many, so it is very important that you arrange booking as soon as possible. Other Auburn hotel options all within blocks of the Hilton Garden are:
• Hilton Garden Inn
• Holiday Inn
• Inn at the Finger Lakes
• Super 8
Other options can be found by Searching Expedia or for the more adventurous, try Air BnB.
It is very important that you do your booking right away. Lodging will be scarce and probably more expensive the longer you wait.

Things You Should Bring

Sale Items. Above all else dress casually with comforable shoes. You’ll be on your feet a lot. Do some serious searching in your shop for items you thing might interest others at our Flea Market and the Auction, which immediately follows the Flea Market. This could be type fonts, matrices, machine components, paper, specimen books, etc. The sky’s the limit so come with goodies to get rid of.

Keepsakes. Traditionally there has been a keepsake exchange, so if you have printed something “neat” or “unique,” if you have up to 50 spare copies, bring them along. Because many are traveling commercially, we ask that all keepsakes be sized or folded to fit inside a 12×18 envelope.

Show ’n Tell Items. Anything which will transport easily—bring it along if you have questions about what it is, or want to show others what you have that’s truly unique. You’ll be amongst the most knowledgeable people in the world when it comes to type, type founding, typecasting and linecasting, so bring things if you have questions or want to know how it’s used or what it’s used for.

Program Schedule

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

No formal activities are planned. The day is intended for those who wish to come early and take advantage of events Thursday morning. Plan on arriving sometime in the afternoon. A hospitality room most likely will be set up and open after 2 p.m. in Auburn. Folks are encouraged to gather at the hospitality room for get-acquainted and this also might be a great opportunity for you to get together with  others for car-pooling during the Conference itself.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

As a “Flex-Day”, three options are available, allowing you “open house” opportunity to visit two unique type-related attractions in Rochester, or take advantage of the technical sessions at Bixler Letterfoundry.

1. The Cary Collection at Rochester Institute of Technology (a wonderful library with a letterpress workshop) will be open to visitors from 10:30 a.m. Until 4:30 p.m. The Cary Collection is located in the Wallace Library, 90 Lomb Memorial Drive, on the RIT Campus.

Please see ride-share board to sign up if you need or can offer a ride.

2. Virgin Wood Type, 171 Valley Road., Rochester, NY 14618. Phone (585) 313-8744. Here you will see the revival of wood type manufacturing utilizing historic pantograph equipment and other materials once utilized at American Wood Type in Long Island City. The shop will be open to visitors from 10:30 a.m. Until 4:30 p.m.

3. Technical Sessions (NOW FULL) at Bixler Letterfoundry, Skaneateles, N. Y., approximately 7 miles from Auburn. Those not registered for the technical Sessions are discouraged from visiting the Bixler Letterfoundry on this date, while Technical Sessisons are being conducted. All will be welcome there on Saturday.
(a) Session 1, beginning at 10 a.m., “The Monotype Composition Machine,” by Michael Bixler. Session will last approximately 3 hours and will be restricted to 10 persons. Registration fee is $25.00 in advance. Your registration acceptance (or denial) will be acknowledged on receipt of your fee.This session is now full
(b) Session 2, beginning approximatgely 1:20 p.m., “The Monotype Supercaster,” by Michael Bixler. Session will last approximately 3 hours and will be restricted to 10 persons. Registration fee is $25.00 in advance. Your registration acceptance (or denial) will be acknowledged on receipt of your fee. This session is now full
(c) You may select one or both sessions, but if you select both, please indicate your preference if we are able to accommodate you at only one session.

Thursday Evening, August 11, 2016

You are encouraged to join fellow Conference registrants at the Hilton Garden gathering area any time after 6:30 p.m. Last-minute details will be available and you will be able to pick up registration materials at this time. Such times are perhaps the most important to Conference attendees for this is where you will be able to meet and talk freely with your fellow typecasting enthusiasts. So please do plan on coming to the Hilton Garden and stay for a while during evening hours throughout the Conference.

Friday, August 12, 2016

All sessions will be held at Wells College, Aurora, N. Y. and hosted by The Wells Book Arts Center. Established in 1993, The Wells Book Arts Center features extensive collections of wood and metal type with 7 Vandercook presses, 7 platen presses and one hand iron press that belonged to Victor Hammer. All sessions will be on Campus near the Book Arts Center. An exhibition of Victor Hammer punches and Matrices will be set up in the Wells Library.

8:30 a.m. Welcome Continental Breakfast & Get Acquainted Sessions, at “The Well” Campus Pub. All registrants are encouraged to be on time for this early session, to introduce themselves, and hear of plans for the remainder of the Conference.

9:30 a.m.-12 noon
Morning Sessions

Friday Afternon, August 12, 2016

12 noon Lunch at  “The Well” Campus Pub. After this informal lunch, those with materials for the swap meet and/or the auction will have opportunity to bring in their materials and set up at The Sommer Center (Upsatirs from the Well). Buyers are encouraged to hold off until formal opening of the swap meet.

1 p.m.
Afternoon Sessions

2-4 p.m. Swap Meet is conducted. Vendors are asked to reserve space to assure they will have ample opportunity to display their wares. Details on loading and unloading will be provided in advance of arrival to Wells.

4:30-5:30 p.m. Annual ATF Auction. Bring materials for the sale. Bring money and buy! All items in the sale are offered with proceeds going in one of three ways:
(a) 100% to help offset ATF Conference expenses,
(b) 90% to Conference Expense, 10% to owner, or
(c) 60%to owner, 40% to Conference expenses.

6 pm. Buffet Dinner at “The Well” Campus Pub

Friday Evening, August 12, 2016

Location at Auburn to be determined. Informal discussion of several common issues among participants. (a) equipment availablity, (b) how to best move equipment, (c) the future of technical training of typecasting enthusiasts, and (d) gory war stories about getting and moving equipment. Refreshments will be on hand. Hopefully all will be ready to turn in at midnight.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

All activites will be in and around Skaneateles, NY, with most activity being confined to the Bixler Letterfoundry. Michael warns that parking is very limited at the foundry and therefore, he strongly encourages people to carpool or, perhaps, park their cars at a public park up the road from the foundry and walk in.

Spouses or “signifcant others” who are not interested in spending the day at the typefoundry are encouraged to exploit other opportunities in the Skaneateles area. A boat ride on the lake? Fashionable shopping in downtown Skaneateles, etc. A packet will be assembled with some suggestions and a van will be provided with a drop off and pick up to downtown Skaneateles 

9:30 a.m. The Who, What, Where and Why of the Bixler Letterfoundry— presented by Michael and Winnie Bixler. This informal sessison will be held at the foundry, immediately followed by a foundry open house and ongoing demonstrations of equipment and a proud showing of several of the extensive projects completed over the years at the foundry. Luncheon will be served at the foundry and the open house will extend throughout the afternoon.

5 p.m. Sit Down Dinner at Hilton Garden Inn. Speech with some formal ATF business including next conference etc.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Open House At Bixler Letterfoundry – Beginning at 10am
Informal gathering to talk about various type casting equipment and issues.

Questions?

Email:
Richard Kegler – Wells Book Arts Center: bookartscenter@wells.edu
or
Michael & Winnie Bixler – Bixler Letterfoundry : info@mwbixler.com
or
Rich Hopkins -ATF: wvtypenut@gmail.com