The Hamilton Wood Type Mfg Co began accidentally, due to the need for an advertising poster to be printed urgently. It was too late to order new wood type, so the desperate printer asked William Hamilton, an employee at a local chair factory, if he could improvise some type for the poster.

The result printed very well, and William Hamilton, as a canny businessman, realised there was a business opportunity here, and began experimenting with his scroll saw, then sent some of his newly made wood type to his printer brothers.