Ian Schaefer

Monotype Foundry

I’ve been studying—albeit sporadically over the past several years—the design and manufacture of once-commonplace metal printing types. I hope that this section will someday reflect great progress in my efforts to establish a small, working typefoundry in my letterpress shop. Recently, a new ‘Monotype’ Compostition Caster was acquired for the foundry. There are some pictures of the successful move.

The Engraving Machine

Yet another project—an old pantographic engraving machine in need of a little attention. More here.

A ‘Monotype’ Disaster

On Tuesday, May 11, 2004, I received a long awaited shipment from Georgia. The freight was three pallets of machinery which I hoped would be my first ‘Monotype’ system, the centerpiece of which was a very fine and relatively new, British-made, 16 × 17 ‘Monotype’ Caster. Then, the story takes a horrible turn…Take a look at the pictures.

Typefoundry Inventory

Since the arrival of my second ‘Monotype’ machine, I’ve started to record an inventory of what’s in the foundry .

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.

The Monotype is on the way. Shipping confimed. Shipping paid (Don’t ask). Three pallets weighing in at 2400 lbs: 1300 for caster, 750 for keyboard (seems high to me), 350 for compressor and miscellaneous stuff. Arrival is set for the week of the 3rd of May. Hopefully enough space has been cleared in the shop,…it all works out on paper.
This machine formerly belonged to Paul Duesing, at his shop in Watkinsville, Geogia. I first met Paul last year at Monotype University Five in Terra Alta, West Virgina, where he, along with rest of the Monu U faculty, taught several of us the Monotype Composition System. Paul is a rather legendary figure among the fine press, typography and typefounding circles. I feel very fortunate to be ‘inheriting’ some of his equipment.

As of 3:00 PM today, I am the owner of a 1960s ‘Monotype’ Composition Caster and Keyboard. While it is neither paid for nor in my possession, I have committed to it’s shipment northward from Georgia. It is quite irrevocable.

I have always liked the word relish. Maybe I enjoy any word that functions as both a noun and a verb, and where the noun is a concrete thing�skirt is another example. Anyway, I had some fun setting this word in 24-point Fournier Ornamented, and embellishing with a dazzling arrangement of 18-point Arrighi Ornaments. The florid, baroque appearance seems to fit the word: couldn’t it be the label on an old tin of minced sweet pickles?
Fournier type was cast by students, including myself, at Monotype University Five. The Arrighi Ornaments are the finely cast product of the Dale Guild.

I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but it seems reasonably likely that I will obtain a Monotype Composition Casting Machine in the near future. I dreamed about making type for many years, even before I truly understood what it meant to make type in the traditional, 3-dimensional sense. Then, about 3 years ago, I was afforded an opportunity to spend a few days with Mike Anderson of the At Random Press Typefoundry, where my fate was apparently sealed. Working with the Thompson machine left me hungry for more. Upon Mike’s suggestion I enrolled in Monotype University 5, lead by Rich Hopkins. Here I learned that I could actually manage a composition machine—that it was within my grasp, both intellectually and mechanically. After all, it is a big, heavy, hot, greasy, complicated piece of machinery—especially for a guy who doesn’t make it a habit to change the oil in his own car!