Ian Schaefer , Archives: May 2004

In the two weeks since the Monotype Disaster, I have received a great deal of support, both moral and practical, from various members of the American Typecasting Fellowship. Many of these folks also happen to have been my instructors at Monotype University Five. I must thank Mike Anderson, Paul Duensing, Rich Hopkins and Jim Walczak for their continued efforts on behalf of my would-be typefoundry. This is quite a community.

I’ve uploaded the grizzly photos of the Monotype Disaster. I welcome your comments, expertise, and any leads to parts or other complete machines.

The machines arrived on Tueday. The caster is damaged. Almost certainly was rolled on it side. Among the casualties are the jaw tongs spring box and connecting rods, cam shaft stand, locking bars connecting rod, mould blade connecting rod, bridge lifter, speed gauge, as well as the keyboard spindle. Ouch. I had hoped to be up and running before the ATF conferemce in August. That seems unlikely at this point.

The big question for me is this: has the machine suffered such damage that I should just find another machine and use this one for its parts?

The Monotype system is scheduled to arrive Tuesday. “Time Log” shipping has proven to be discouraging. It has taken longer than expected and cost more than I had hoped to pay. However, I am so delighted to know the machine will be here soon. Once it is in position in the shop, I will have forgotten about the long wait.