Double-Spindle Grinding Machine used by Monotype Corporation

Made:
1960-1969 in London
Double spindle grinding machine

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Double spindle grinding machine
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Double spindle grinding machine, Plant No.3414, made by Wolf Electric Tools Ltd., London, England, 1960-1969. Part of the equipment used in the production system for Monotype matrices.

This machine is one of many used in the process to make a 0.2-inch (0.51cm) or 0.4-inch (1.02cm) matrix. Some of the machines were designed at the Monotype factory in Salfords, Surrey, and other machines were purchased and adapted by Monotype.

There were 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 was used to trace and cut the letter from a copper pattern into a piece of steel called a punch. After being hardened, the punch was driven into a piece of bronze using a crank press to produce a matrix. The finished matrix was ready to go to the Monotype Composition Caster where molten metal was pumped through a mould against the matrix to produce a piece of type.

Details

Category:
Printing & Writing
Collection:
Monotype Corporation Collection
Object Number:
1995-1577
Materials:
steel (metal), aluminium alloy, brass (copper, zinc alloy), glass, rubber (unidentified), wood (unidentified) and plastic (unidentified)
Measurements:
overall: 265 mm x 385 mm x 200 mm,
type:
machines