| Melbourne Museum of Printing | Our Glossary of Printing and Typography HOT METAL (LINOTYPE) AND LATER TYPESETTING |
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| SUGGESTION: HOW TO EXPLORE THIS GLOSSARY | |||||||||||||||||||
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IF YOU KNOW THE NAME OF A TERM, GO TO THE ALPHABETIC PAGE eg to find PICA choose the Alphabetic Page N-Q. You will find several meanings of this word, and that it is mostly used in TYPE MEASUREMENTS. | |||||||||||||||||||
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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE OTHER TERMS ABOUT TYPE MEASUREMENTS look in the Thematic Glossary about Typecasting and Type Measurements | |||||||||||||||||||
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| ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THESE DEFINITIONS INCLUDE: | |||
| usu = usually | cf = compare with | eg = for example | typic = typically |
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | assembler | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| parts which bring the descending mats and spacebands together to form a line | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | assembling elevator | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| the "cage" where the line of mats assembles: the cage lifts the assembled line into the mechanism | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | automatic stop | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| device to detect first elevator fully descended to mould before casting otherwise machine will halt | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | back knife | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| knife, behind the mould wheel: as the mould passes, the foot of slug is trimmed to correct height | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | cam (keyboard) | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| part of keyboard. one cam per key. cam rotates once to release one matrix | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | cam (main) | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| main camshaft at rear drives each machine function at the required moment | ||
| VERB | cast . . . . . . . 2 | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| fill the mould, one side closed by the line of mats, with molten typemetal, so making a slug | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | channel | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| storage track in magazine for up to 21 mats of any one letter | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | delivery (channel) | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| channel which guides composed line from assembling elevator to first elevator | ||
| ABBREVIATION | disser | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| abbrev for distributor | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | disser drive screws | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| three long screw drives propel mats along disser bar. Two at top, one to steady bottom edge of mats | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | disser stop unit | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| the gears driving the three screws are finely balanced and stop if any of them is jammed | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | distributor | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| equipment at top of magazine which ensures that each matrix after use returns to correct channel | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | distributor bar | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| steel bar, extending across top of magazine, with grooves to match teeth on each matrix | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | distributor box | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| device which separates the matrices incoming to be dissed, and lift seach onto the disser bar | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | ejector | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| blade cam-driven into mould cavity to force the newly-cast slug out thru trimmer | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | first elevator | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| moves composed line from delivery down to vyce and later up to transfer | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | hairline . . . . . 2 | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| unwanted vertical marks between letters due to worn linecasting matrices | ||
| BRAND NAME | Intertype | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| brand of linecaster with keyboard, identical in function to Linotype | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | jaws | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| left and right jaws, part of the vyce, clamp the mats during casting | ||
| BRAND NAME | Linotype | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| typesetting machine which casts whole lines, from matrices asembled by keyboard | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | magazine | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| trapezoidal storage case for mats of one face and size, mounts on top of Lino | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | magazine entrance | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| box-shaped unit with internal plates to guide mats as they fall off disser bar, into channels | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | magazine rack | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| rack to hold mags vertical while off the machine: usu has rollers under mags | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | matrix . . . . . . 3 | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| brass block or slip carrying letter cavity on one edge: mats are assembled into words and lines | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | matrix teeth | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| top edge of matrix carries combination teeth allowing each mat to drop back into correct channel | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | mould wheel. . . . 1 | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| wheel carries the mould in use from rest to casting to backtrimming to ejection/rest positions | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | mould wheel. . . . 2 | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| the wheel carries 4 or 6 moulds, one of which is selected for use at any time | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | mould [US mold] .. 2 | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| cavity giving shape of slug: mats go in front, mouthpiece behind | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | pi matrix | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| matrix that runs in the pi channel: does not run in a magazine channel | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | pump stop | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| stop-block under pump lever which moves away to allow casting only when vyce jaws detect full line | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | quadder | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| attachment which can set mats to left right or centre without use of quad mats | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | second elevator | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| accepts line of used mats (no spacebands) from transfer and moves them to disser | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | single letter matrix | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| matrix with only one letter, usu display sizes, or old mat before two-letter mats were invented | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | slug . . . . . . . 2 | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| line of type from a linecaster (Lino or Ludlow): all-slug typesetting | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | spaceband . . . . 1 | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| pair of thin steel wedges, placed between words during assembly of each line | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | spaceband . . . . 2 | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| pairs of wedges expand when pushed up between words before casting, tightening the line of mats | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | spaceband box | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| storage place for spacebands, from where they drop into the assembling elevator as required | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | teletypesetter | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| linotype attachment allowing unmanned operation from incoming telegraphic signals | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | transfer | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| moves line from first elevator to second elev: spacebands left behind by s/elev | ||
| ABBREVIATION | TTS | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| teletypesetting attachment | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | two-letter matrix | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| mat with alternate character, often bold or italic, selectable by operator making mat sit higher | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | vyce [US vise] | LINOTYPE/INTERTYPE LINECASTER |
| mechanism which positions mats and expands spacebands prior to casting | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | angle matrix | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| unlike Linotype, the Ludlow can accommodate matrices cut at an angle for italics and scripts | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | composing stick .. 2 | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| hand tool used in composing lines of Ludlow mats | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | cooling circuit | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| pump and cooler to circulate water through the Ludlow mould | ||
| BRAND NAME | Ludlow | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| typesetting machine which casts whole lines from matrices assembled by hand | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | matrix cabinet | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| cabinets usu hold 20 cases, 1 space case and 1 tool drawer: LH or RH cabinet | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | matrix case | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| like a typecase but for Ludlow mats: usu double caps layout: kept at an angle | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | mould [US mold] .. 3 | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| fixed-size cavity in water-cooled block: mats clamp to top, mouthpiece to bottom | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | mouthpiece wiper | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| a consumable oiled felt wipes the metal mouthpiece after each cast | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | quadding stick | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| stick with slide to quickly infill space at RH end of line | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | safety breaking key | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| in the drive train, a consumable breaking key protects against jam-ups | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | self-centring stick | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| automatically equalises space each side of short line | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | space case | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| spaces held in separate case at front of cabinet and shared over many founts | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | space matrix | LUDLOW TYPOGRAPH SYSTEM |
| Ludlow spaces are calibrated in points, from 1/2 to 36: ems don't exist as such | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | cassette | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| lightproof box to carry exposed film/paper from typesetter to processor | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | cold type | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| type produced direct on film or paper (opp: metal type or hot type) | ||
| ABBREVIATION | CRT | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| cathode ray tube, the old name for TV screen technology | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | crt output | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| character generated on screen is focussed onto film/paper, one at a time | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | dry transfer type | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| founts in dyestuff, on release paper: transfer to paper by rubbing: eg Letraset | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | fount . . . . . . 2 | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| set of characters of one typeface (often serving all sizes) | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | galley . . . . . . 2 | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| metaphoric term for strip of typeset paper which can be proofread then pasted up | ||
| VERB | greeking . . . . . 2 | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| use of pattern or grey to simulate areas of text on screen, where type is too small for pixels | ||
| BRAND NAME | Headliner | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| phototypesetter with integral processor: output on sprocketed 35 mm paper | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | hinting | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| instructions added to digital founts to better fit to raster at low resolution | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | IBM composer | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| a strike-on typesetter using "golf-ball" typing elements with true proportional spacing | ||
| ADJECTIVE | justified | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| (lines) so set that left and right margins are flush: also 'justified full-out' | ||
| VERB | kern . . . . . . . 3 | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| reduce space between a pair of letters for better visual spacing | ||
| BRAND NAME | Kroy | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| strike-on machine (later electronic version): output on self-adhesive strip | ||
| BRAND NAME | Letraset | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| dry transfer lettering very popular in the 1960's before computer-gen large types | ||
| VERB | letter space . . . 3 | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| can be very small increm along whole line, not possible with L/P; like tracking | ||
| BRAND NAME | Linotronic | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| phototypesetting output machine from Linotype company | ||
| BRAND NAME | Monophoto | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| mechanical phototypesetter by Monotype Corp, mimicking Monotype composition caster | ||
| BRAND NAME | Morisawa | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| hand op phototypesetter using negative strip founts | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | negative leading | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| where instead of adding space between lines, interline spacing is reduced | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | phototypesetting | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| image of characters formed on sensitive film or paper by light beams | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | pi character . . . 2 | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| character not on the normal keyboard: accessible by codes or alt layouts | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | pica . . . . . . . 3 | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| in some computers (1980's), pica became 1/6 inch thus 0.4 % more than historic | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | preview mode | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| for non-WYSIWYG typesetters, a way of seeing page as it will print | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | required hyphen .. 2 | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| a hyphen which must not be eliminated; not a hyphen inserted by a hyphenation function; hard hyphen | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | soft hyphen | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| hyphen which is automatically suppressed when not needed for word-break | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | strike-on typeset'ng | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| where typing element strikes through ribbon eg Varityper, IBM Composer, Kroy | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | symbol fount | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| fount where every character is a special symbol | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | template | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| file containing layout details, page dimensions | ||
| NOUN, UNCOUNTABLE | tracking | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| + or - variation of letterspacing from that intended by typeface designer | ||
| BRAND NAME | TrueType founts | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| typeface technology adopted for Windows: one fount covers all sizes | ||
| BRAND NAME | Type 1 founts | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| widely available form of digital typeface | ||
| NOUN, COUNTABLE | unit | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| setwise subdivision of typesize: each system has its own unit arrangement | ||
| BRAND NAME | Varityper | COLD TYPE COMPOSITION |
| strike-on machine, one of the first with choice of typefaces for office use | ||
Persons wishing to use these are asked to contact the author at Melbourne Museum of Printing.
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