Monotype 0.2-Inch Crank Press

Monotype 0.2-inch crank press, flywheel-operated, Plant No. 294, made by Lanston Monotype Corporation, Salfords, Redhill, Surrey, England, 1908. This machine was used for striking character impressions in matrix blanks, equipped with automatic feed and ejection of blanks and 'hands clear' punch manipulator, floor standing. It is part of the equipment used in the production system for 0.2 x 0.2-inch Monotype matrices.

The crank press in the Monotype Collection is a standard crank press, as used by many engineering companies, but considerably adapted by The Monotype Corporation to be able to insert, strike and eject 0.2-inch (0.51cm) matrices. The carved end of the hardened steel punch is driven into the softer bronze 0.2-inch blank matrix with a pressure of 20 tons. The punch leaves its intaglio equivalent in the matrix. Over twenty further operations are undertaken before the finished matrix is ready to go to the Monotype Composition Caster where molten metal is pumped through a mould against the matrix to produce a piece of type.

The larger press (SMG object number: 1995-1562) produces 0.4-inch (1.02cm) matrices with 60 tons of pressure. There are no other Monotype versions of these machines in the world.