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Melbourne Museum of Printing |
TYPESETTING MACHINES
Monotype Composition Caster |
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Monotype Composition Caster
This machine composes type by casting new, single types in
correct order, ready for printing. Spaces between words are
varied by the system (in steps of 0.0005 inch!) to exactly
justify each line.
The system was devised by Tolbert Lanston and others in the USA
with British cooperation about 1890.
Monotype Composition Keyboard
The keyboard is a separate machine: it produces a roll of punched
paper tape to control the casting operation.
Monotype Duplex Composition Keyboard
This could produce two identical or similar but differentiated
rolls at once.
The Monotype system was immediately popular with book printers.
It was used for newpapers only to a limited extent. "The Times"
in London used them: it was for that paper that the Monotype
Corporation first produced the typeface "Times New Roman".
There were numerous Monotype installations in Australia.
The Monotype Composition Caster can also be used for casting types
`in bulk' for later hand-setting.
PAGE IN PREPARATION
Our collection of Monotypes - about 30.
Examples of Monotype Typesettings.
The Monotype Supercaster - a related machine.
How the Monotype operates.
Typefaces of the Monotype System.
British and US monotypes - similar in principle - but many details
are different. We would like to hear from someone with knowledge of
the US Monotype machines.
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