Mergenthaler Linotype Matrix Identification

1. Identifying a Mergenthaler Matrix

Since at least early 1911, the Mergenthaler Linotype Company employed a triangle (sometimes with MLCo inscribed in it) as a trademark to identify many of their parts. In particular, they used a triangle (with nothing inscribed inside it) as a part of the code identifying each of their matrices. Here is an example:

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The triangle signifies that this is a matrix manufactured by the Mergenthaler Linotype Company ( other makers used different symbols and systems of marking).

The number to the left of the triangle ("24") indicates the body size of the type in the main casting position, in points (24 point). It does not simply indicate the point size of the matrix, as is often said. Some matrices (including this one, as it happens) have different body sizes in the auxiliary casting position.

The number to the right of the triangle uniquely identifies this matrix font within Mergenthaler's 24 point matrices. Thus this matrix, 24 TRIANGLE 122 is "Spartan Black Condensed with 18 Point Spartan Heavy." This number ("122" here) does not identify the typeface. Thus, while 18 TRIANGLE 122 is "Spartan Black Condensed with 14 Point Spartan Heavy," 8 TRIANGLE 122 is "Century Expanded with Century Bold" and 10 TRIANGLE 122 is "Ronaldson with Title No. 1". In order to identify a typeface on a matrix, you must use the entire code (both numbers, before and after the triangle). The number after the triangle is by itself without meaning.

The matrix bears two additional markings.

The "Hy" indicates that this is a hyphen (to distinguish it from other forms of dashes). Indications such as "Hy", "CAP", etc. could be stamped here to to distinguish potentially confusing matrices (e.g., capital O vs. figure 0). Matrices not subject to such confusions were not marked in this position.

The pattern of four dots is a factory code which encodes the date of manufacture, by six-month periods. In order to assure the best possible alignment, customers ordering additional matrices would cite this pattern of dots (or sometimes dashes, 'x', or other markings) and Mergenthaler would attempt to supply matrices from stock from the same six month period. The chances of perfect alignment were better with matrices from the same production run. (My thanks to Dave Seat (Hot Metal Services, http://www.hotmetalservices.com/ ) and Patrick Leary for their assistance in understanding the purpose of this code.)

Spaces, which have no particular body (point) size, are often marked simply with the triangle and their thickness in decimal inches.

2. Useful Matrix Information

With regret, I must observe that much of the following text, including the reference to the work of Jim Gard, was copied verbatim in Frank Romano's History of the Linotype Company (Rochester, NY: RIT Press, 2014), p. 444, without any attribution to its source here. This was done without my knowledge or permission (which I would certainly have given, had I been asked). It is unfortunate that the readers of his book were deprived of the opportunity to go directly to the source information reprinted here.