Exotics & Oldies

The Exotics & Oldies collection celebrates the unusual, rare, and memorable pieces of printing history that stand apart from everyday equipment. These machines and artifacts may come from different countries, time periods, printing traditions, or specialized uses, giving visitors a broader view of how diverse the world of print has always been.

Some printing machines were designed for speed, while others were built for precision, beauty, portability, or unique production needs. The Exotics & Oldies collection highlights the creativity and craftsmanship behind these distinctive tools, showing how printers adapted technology to serve newspapers, books, posters, labels, community notices, and many other printed materials.

This collection also reminds visitors that printing history was never limited to one place or one style of machine. Across the world, printers developed equipment that reflected local needs, available materials, technical skill, and cultural purpose. Each piece carries its own story of invention, use, and preservation.

At Demers, Gutenberg, Franklin Museum, Exotics & Oldies invites guests to discover the unexpected side of printing history. These remarkable pieces help tell a richer story of communication, showing how print evolved through ingenuity, experimentation, and the lasting human desire to share ideas.