Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-01-18
BRATTLEBORO LOCAL.
THE FIRST PRIZE WINNER.

Printer-Journalist Tells Of the Open
Contest in Which Will B. crombie
of The Phoenix Job Printing Office
Carried of the Honors.
The January number of the National
Printer-Journalist appears in the prize
cover designed by viii b. Crombie,
with e. l.. Hildreth q Co., The Phoe-
nix Job Printing office. The Printer
Journalist devotes several pages to an
account of the prize contest, with II
illustrations, showing the handsomest
designs submitted. Portraits are
published of the four winners, with
biographical sketches, Mr.. Crombe,
eNcelling all others, having the place
OF honor. The Printer-Journalist
Bays:
The designs submitted were of a
very high character and clearly indi-
cate that the average American prin-
ten is an artist and can originate and
execute rs signs which would compare
very favorably with any in the world.
The writer is inclined to think the
american printer would be successful
in an international contest which, by
the way, would make a very interest
ing competition.
As the designs reached this Office
they were numbered and all other
marks of identification were removed;
they were put into the safe and only
rcmoved from there when the contest
closed Nov. 10. The judges were
hfee practical printers-not employ
1g printers, but actually working at
ne printing trade, and men all known
ar their skill and knowledge. They
Gre selected unknown to each other
Z The designs were submitted to the
first judge, who looked them over and
rendered a decision then the second
Judge did the same thing and the third
hkewise-all without the slightest
knowledge or influence from each
other. After this a meeting was ar
ranged of all three of the judges and
the final decision reached by the per-
centage plan.
Strange to say the winners of the
prizes are from widely separated
points. The cultured East taking the
first, the wild West second, Canada
getting third place. while the fourth
Fnding in the home city-ChiCago-
shows the widespread interest taken
lin the contest.
The first prize was awarded to Will
liam Crombie, Brattleboro, VT. Two
OF the judges placed this design first.
which gave it such large percentage
Of points that it won easily first hon
ors in the final race. The design
and paper on which it was submitted
are used for the cover of the Printer
Journalist this month. Little doubt
exists but that it was the most classic,
artistic and refined of all the designs
sent in.
Will Crombie, winner of the first
prize was born April s, 1871, at Rouse
Vile, Pa. He spent his childhood in
Connecticut. His parents then moved
to Lincoln, Neb., where he attended
the public schools until his 10th year
and the night schools until his 25th
year At 1G he was an apprentice at
Sc a week in the Office of the Lincoln
Ilaily Democrat Job room), and after
working in various offices finished his
time in the Woodruff Printing com
pany. He then made tour of the
Eastern and Southern states, returning
to Lincoln in 1900, when he started
with f. A. King, the well-known typo
graphic artist, one of the best and up
to-date job offices in the west. The
firm name was King & Crombie. In
1895 Mr.. Crombie sold out to the Ivy
Press and accepted a situation in the
NVayside Press (Springfield Mass.)
under Mr.. Will Bradley, the artist.
He remained with the Wayside Press
one year, and for the past three years
has been with f. l.. Hildreth & Co.,
Brattleboro, VT. The firm employ up
wards &C 40 hands.
Mr.. Crombie won the Typothetae
and Platemaker first prize in August,
1899 $40. George Herrick, one of
the job compositors employed by the
same firm, won the first prize for the
March 1900, Inland Printer cover, $25,
and Mr.. Crombie won the National
Printer-Journalist first prize, 1901, $40
He is now engaged in getting out
book on title pages which will be
printed on heavy deckle-edge paper
with II specimen pages.