Category: Equipment

Will the real Swing Bold please step forward

I’m getting ready to cast some 18-point Swing Bold (Monotype #217) for someone and I’ve found that my test casts don’t match the samples I received for alignment matching. Each group of 3 letters shows the alignment sample between two

American pump on an English caster? Nope!

As part of test-fitting the parts for lead-and-rule casting, I found that there is a critical size difference between the American and English pump bodies. Both these pumps take a ⅞″ diameter piston. The section of the pump that the

Converting the Composition Caster to Lead-and-Rule casting

One thing I would like to be able to do with my Monotype Composition Caster is to cast spacing and rule. There is a kit of parts required to make the change-over, and I now have most of the necessary

18 Point Mould in Pieces Again

With my test casting using the American display mould set up for 18 points I found that the feet of the type were wider (pointwise) than the heads of the type. This was probably due to dirt being caught between

Yesterday’s dumb move

In my last post I mentioned problems with flash and squirts around the seal between the matrix and the display mould. I have since added a comment alluding to the probable cause of this problem: Forgetting to reinstall the link

Making a US Display Mould Spacer—Finishing and Testing

I became so involved in finishing the 18 point display mould spacer that I never took any pictures of the process. Using a flat file, three diamond sharpening “stones” and a wood block coated with polishing compound, I finished the

Making a US Display Mould Spacer—Roughing

I’ve started making an 18-point spacer for one of my US Monotype display moulds per the drawing in my last post. The material I started with was ⅜×¾″ hot-rolled steel because I had a piece handy. The bar was about

US Display Mould Spacer Dimensions

I’ve measured all the spacers I have for US Monotype Display mould blade kits. There are two styles (long and short) which correspond to the style of blade front (thin or thick respectively). This drawing shows both superimposed: There seemed

Measuring US Display Mould Spacers

In order to make an 18 point spacer for use in a US Monotype Display Mould, I first have to determine the dimensions required. I set up a spreadsheet for recording the data and measured the dimensions of all the

Up, Down, What’s the difference?

My recent post about setting up to cast 18 point display type got up and down mixed up. When casting 18 point on an English mould with an American display mat holder, the mat must be lowered, not raised as

Top