


Matrix side-wall milling machine, Plant No.503, made by Lanston Monotype Corporation, Salford, Redhill, Surrey, 1914. Part of the equipment used in the production system for 0.2 x 0.2-inch Monotype matrices. Mounted on bench with machine Nos.958, 289, 290 and 355.
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:
- 1995-1581
- Materials:
- brass (copper, zinc alloy) and steel (metal)
- Measurements:
-
overall (bench): 890 mm x 3380 mm x 690 mm,
- type:
- machines
- taxonomy:
-
- tools and equipment
- equipment