Monotype 0.2 inch Crank Press

Made:
1908 in Redhill
maker:
Lanston Monotype Corporation
Monotype 0.2 inch Crank Press Monotype 0.2 inch Crank Press

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Monotype 0.2 inch Crank Press
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Monotype 0.2 inch Crank Press
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Monotype 0.2 inch Crank Press , flywheel-operated, Plant No.294, made by Lanston Monotype Corporation, Salford, Redhill, Surrey, England, 1908. Used for striking character impressions in matrix blanks, equipped with automatic feed and ejection of blanks and 'hands clear' punch manipulator, floor standing. Part of the equipment used in the production system for 0.2 inch x 0.2-inch Monotype matrices.

There are 82 separate processes needed to transform a designer’s drawing (of a letter, figure, punctuation, or symbol) into a piece of Monotype metal type for printing. A pantograph is used to trace and cut the letter from a copper pattern into a piece of steel called a punch. After being hardened, the punch is driven into a piece of bronze using a crank press to produce a matrix. 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.

This machine is one of many machines used in the process to make a 0.2 inch or 0.4 inch matrix.

The Type Archive has a functioning Monotype matrix workshop containing around 70 machines and pieces of equipment. It is the only one of its kind in the world and matrices are still produced for customers.

Details

Category:
Printing & Writing
Collection:
Monotype Corporation Collection
Object Number:
1995-1583
Materials:
aluminium alloy, bakelite, brass (copper, zinc alloy), copper (metal), paper (fibre product), plastic (unidentified), steel (metal) and wood (unidentified)
Measurements:
overall: 2230 mm x 1050 mm x 770 mm,
type:
machines
taxonomy:
  • tools and equipment
  • equipment