Note that the Type-&-Rule Caster (q.v.) is a variation upon the Composition Caster, so much of the information here for the Composition Caster applies to it as well.
The Monotype System (1912)
The Monotype System: A Book for Owners & Operators of Monotypes . First Edition. (Philadelphia: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1912.) This is a local copy of the Google Books digitization of the University of Michigan copy. It is an imperfect scan; the plates aren't done.
The Monotype System (1912), Plates
The Google Books scan of The Montype System (1912) is imperfect; the plates aren't done. Here are Plates I, III, IV, V, and VI from the 1912 edition, along with Plate VI from the 1916 edition (which appears to be the same as Plate II of the 1912 edition).
The Monotype System (1912)
[TO DO - scan it] The Monotype System: A Book for Owners & Operators of Monotypes . First Edition. (Philadelphia: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1912.)
The Monotype System (1916)
[TO DO - scan it] The Monotype System: A Book for Owners & Operators of Monotypes . Second Edition. (Philadelphia: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1916.)
The Monotype "System" (ATF)
[NOT REPRINTED HERE] Hopkins, Richard L. ? The Monotype "System". Terra Alta, WV: The American Typecasting Fellowship, [date?]. This is an article from the ATF Newsletter which provides a quick overview of the major components of the Monotype system: keyboard, composition casting machine, composition mold, keybar, stopbar, wedge, standard 15x15 and 15x17 matrix cases, and large comp matrix case.
Operating the Monotype Keyboard (1913)
Operating the Monotype Keyboard. Second Edition (Philadelphia: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1913.) This is a local copy of the Google Books digitization of the University of Michigan copy.
Function and Operation (1959)
Lanston Monotype Company. Function and Operation of the 15-17 Casting Machine, Including Supplementary Equipment. (Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Company Division of Lanston Industries, Inc., 1959).
This is subtitled "A Supplement to "Casting Machine Adjustments" Published 1930", and indeed contains much more than just a description of the 15-17 matrix case specific features.
This has been digitized by Kevin Martin. The icon at left links to a local copy of his PDF. For his original presentation, see: http://www.papertrail.ca/blog/2014/09/24/one-of-my-new-monotype-books/
Programming Notes... (1960s)
[NOT REPRINTED HERE] The Monotype Corporation Limited. Programming Notes for 'Monotype' Composing Machines. (London: The Monotype Corporation Limited, n.d. [1960s]). This is a 1960s English Monotype book on the theory of the unit system. An abridged version was reprinted by Rich Hopkins (Terra Alta, WV: The Hill and Dale Private Press and Typefoundry, 2004).
The Lanston Monotype parts price lists are essential for maintaining these machines, even though you cannot buy new parts. They are the only source which identifies completely what parts were in fact on a machine. They also identify which parts constitute a particular assembly, feature, or attachment.
Parts and Accessories (1907-1909)
The Monotype: Parts and Accessories. (Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, n.d. [between 1907 and 1909])
This is a very early Lanston Monotype parts list. It is undated, but must be from between 1907 (because it mentions the Model D Keyboard) and January 1910 (the date of the earliest addendum bound in it). It was updated through 1911. It has the best title page of any parts book by any company, ever.
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (508 Megabytes): lmmc-monotype-parts-and-accessories-for-machines-103-and-following-0600rgbjpg.pdf
Keyboard Parts Price List (1941/1942)
Parts Price List: The Monotype Keyboard. (Philadelphia: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1942). Effective 1941-03-01, revised 1942-03-10. Printing code: 463-3-42-1750.
Thanks are due to Sky Shipley of Skyline Type Foundry for preserving this information and making it available.
This copy was heavily annotated by its former owner, and many of these annotations refer to parts available from a third-party Lanston Monotype distributor, Sorga Incorprated. It also included, slipped in, a much later (1963) letter from Sorga and a typescript price list presumably from Sorga. These have been included in this digitization. The Sorga price list is interesting in that it includes pricing for the Monomatic Keyboard and Caster.
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (171 Megabytes): lanston-monotype-keyboard-parts-price-list-1941-03-01-rev-1942-03-10-463-3-42-1750-stf-0600rgbjpg.pdf
Keyboard Parts List (1952)
Parts List: The Monotype Keyboard. (Philadelphia, PA: The Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1952) Effective April 1, 1952. "For use with Keyboards 6800 and following."
Thanks are due to Sky Shipley of Skyline Type Foundry for preserving this information and making it available.
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (159 Megabytes): lanston-monotype-keyboard-parts-list-1952-04-01-stf-0600rgbjpg.pdf
Comp. Caster Plate Book, 11th Ed. (1928)
Detail Plates[of] The Monotype Casting Machine [-] Illustrations of the Parts of the Monotype Casting Machine with their Names and Symbols . Eleventh Edition (Machines s/n 1603 to 9650 inclusive). (Philadelphia: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1928).
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (682 Megabytes): lanston-monotype-casting-machine-detail-plates-1928-11ed-0600dpijpg.pdf
Caster Parts Price List, 4th Ed. (1930)
Parts Price List[,] Monotype Casting Machine and Type-&-Rule Caster . Fourth Edition. (Philadelphia: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1930).
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (750 Megabytes): lanston-monotype-parts-price-list-monotype-casting-machine-and-type-and-rule-caster-4ed-1930-0600dpijpg.pdf
Caster Parts List (1952)
Effective 1952-04-01. No prices. For machines from serial number 5300 forward.
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (385 Megabytes): lanston-parts-list-monotype-typesetting-machine-composition-caster-1952-0600dpijpg.pdf
Dismantling, Assembling, Adjusting (1918)
Instructions for Dismantling, Assembling and Adjusting the Monotype Casting Machine . Advance Proofs. (Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1918).
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (329 Megabytes): instructions-dismantling-assembling-adjusting-monotype-casting-machine-1918-advance-proofs-0600greyjpg.pdf
Important Information ... Molds
"Important Information for Operators of Monotype Molds." Printing code: 8230-5-49-10M. For all Composition Caster and Type & Rule Caster molds. This is a short general information booklet containing instructions on checking the Molds and Main Stand, preparing Molds for casting, lubricating oils, and water regulation. It also contains a tear-off sheet to be mailed to Lanston when a Mold is shipped to them for repair.
Thanks are due to Sky Shipley of Skyline Type Foundry for preserving this information (even though he casts only on Thompsons) and making it available.
This is a tri-fold folder, but the page order is unusual. To show the pagination, here is a low-resolution version as unfolded.
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (119 Megabytes): lanston-monotype-information-operators-monotype-molds-8230-5-49-10M.pdf
Composition Mold 1E
Directions for Care and Cleaning The Style 1E Composition Mold. (Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1921). Printing code: 8094-8-21-1M-2. This pamphlet consists of a single sheet folded into 8 pages per side. They are presented in the PDF in page order, but their imposition on the sheet is unusual. On the recto, left to right then top to bottom, the order is: (top pages) 10, 11, 16, 1, (bottom pages) 12, 13, 14, 15. On the verso, the order is: (top pages) 2, 3, 4, 5, (bottom pages) 6, 7, 8, 9.
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (49 Megabytes): lanston-monotype-care-and-cleaning-composition-mold-1E-8094-8-21-1M-2-0600rgbjpg.pdf
Here are the Figures from this leaflet at full resolution (1200dpi). These are large files (the first three are about 15 Megabytes each while the last three are about 36 Megabytes each).
Composition Mold 2E
Directions for Care and Cleaning The Style 2E Non-Adjustable [Composition Caster] Monotype Mold . (Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1946.) Printing code: 8062-12-46-500. N.B. According to this document, the Style 2E Mold was superseded in 1934 by the Style 3E (see below).
Thanks are due to Sky Shipley of Skyline Type Foundry for preserving this information (even though he casts only on Thompsons) and making it available.
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (33 Megabytes): lanston-monotype-composition-mold-style-2E-care-cleaning-8062-12-46-500-skyline-0600rgb-0600dpijpg.pdf
Here are the halftone Figures from this folder at full resolution (1200dpi). These are large images, each between 55 and 57 Megabytes.
Composition Mold 3E
"Directions for Care and Cleaning Style 3E Monotype Composition Molds." (Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, 1941.) Printing code: 8231-12-41-1M. This folder consists of a single sheet folded into 8 pages per side. The order of imposition is as follows. Recto: (top row) 9, 10, 11, 0, (bottom row) 12, 13, 14, 15. Verso: (top row) 1, 2, 3, 4, (bottom row) 5, 6, 7, 8.
Thanks are due to Sky Shipley of Skyline Type Foundry for preserving this information (even though he casts only on Thompsons) and making it available.
See also the advertising brochure introducing this mold in 1934.
The icon at left links to a presentation of this work on The Internet Archive, where it may be read online conveniently. Here is a local copy of the PDF (39 Megabytes): lanston-monotype-composition-mold-3E-care-cleaning-8231-12-41-1M-0600rgb-600dpijpg.pdf
Here are the halftone Figures from this folder at full resolution (1200 dpi). These are large files (the first is 35 Megabytes and the second is 96 Megabytes).
F-750, Revised
[NOT REPRINTED HERE] I've never actually seen this leaflet. I've merely seen it reference in the (English) Monotype Corporation's film Handle with Care. It describes the end-user care of an (English) Monotype mould.
(Actually, the term "Bulletin" may be inappropriate here. "Bulletin" is what Linotype or Intertype would have called the short technical guides collected here. I'm not sure what the two Monotype companies called them.)
Applying New Type Channel Xa51F
"Instrutions for Applying a New Type Channel Block (fixed) Assembly Xa51F to Casting Machines."
The icon here "clicks through" to a single 9.7 Megabyte image of this one-page document. My "original" was itself a spirit duplicator copy and is badly faded. This image here has been enhanced digitally for readability, and saved more concisely as a lossy JPEG. Just for the sake of being archival (because chemistry and time will soon destroy the original), here is the original 170 Megabyte image as a lossless PNG file. You probably don't really need this.
Scanned from a copy borrowed from Skyline Type Foundry which was contained in an envelope addressed to Harlowe Typography [Washington, D.C.]. Thanks are due to Schuyler Shipley of Skyline Type Foundry for preserving this material and making it available.
Take Down Caster; Strip Galley Stand
"Take Down Caster As Follows / To Strip the Galley Stand." This single, unpaginated, page would seem to have been torn from an as yet unidentified Lanston Monotype publication.
Scanned from a copy borrowed from Skyline Type Foundry which was contained in an envelope addressed to Harlowe Typography [Washington, D.C.]. Thanks are due to Schuyler Shipley of Skyline Type Foundry for preserving this material and making it available.
Justified Letter-Spacing, a15KU
A four-page folder, "Keyboard Attachment a15KU - Justified Letter Spacing: Description and Instructions For Fitting, etc." No date, but after 1943 (the address for Lanston uses a city zone). Also a diazo (?) copy of a photographic parts diagram (dated Oct 17 1955) and a spirit duplicator copy of a parts list.
Thanks are due to Schuyler Shipley of Skyline Type Foundry for preserving this material and making it available.
The items marked "{Skyline-Harlowe}" are miscellaneous technical documents which are either individual instruction and explanation sheets or (possibly) sections from an as yet unidentified book or set of instructional materials. They were scanned from copies borrowed from Skyline Type Foundry and were contained in an envelope addressed to Harlowe Typography [Washington, D.C.]. They were probably (but not certainly) published by the Lanston Monotype Machine Company. Thanks are due to Schuyler Shipley of Skyline Type Foundry for preserving this material and making it available.
The Galley
"The Paper Tower." pp. (00) and (00). A third page, reproduced below as " [Measure]," below, was stapled together with this in the copy as received (but may or may not belong with it). {Skyline-Harlowe}
[Measure]
"[Measure]." p. [unpaginated]. This page was stapled together with The Galley, above, in the copy as received (but may or may not belong with it). {Skyline-Harlowe}
The Pump (typescript)
"The Pump." This is a (scan of a) spirit duplicator copy of a typescript of the same material as is in The Pump {Skyline-Harlowe}, above. It, too, was borrowed from Skyline Type Foundry but it was not in the same envelope as the "Harlowe" materials. I'm reproducing it here only out of a sort of excessive sense of archival duty, as spirit duplicator copies perish of their own accord.
The Mold Blade
"The Mold Blade Operating and Sizing Mechanism." pp. 24-26. {Skyline-Harlowe}
The Space-Sizing Mechanism
"The Space-Sizing Mechanism." pp. 29-30. {Skyline-Harlowe}
Calculation of Unit Sizes
"Calculation of Unit Sizes." pp. [two unpaginated pages]. {Skyline-Harlowe}
Monotype Mathematics
"Monotype Mathematics." pp. [three unpaginated pages]. {Skyline-Harlowe}
Glossary
"A Glossary of Monotype Caster Terms." pp. 1c - 8c. {Skyline-Harlowe}
Arguably these tables should be up-and-over in the Use: Type Machinery in Operation set of Notebooks. However, as I don't yet have a Composition Caster, presently I have no idea how I'd even organize a Comp Caster section there. Since these charts might be of interest, I'll put them here at least for now.
The user of the caster may be interested in various charts and tables which apply to Monotype and other typecasting generally and are listed in ../../../../ Noncomposing Typecasters -> General Literature about Machine Typecasting -> General Machine Typecasting Practices -> Charts and Tables (some of these tables of course are simply those presented here).
Cellular Matrix Markings
[NOT REPRINTED HERE] "Lanston Monotype Cellular Matrix Markings." ([probably:] Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, n.d.) Reprinted by Rich Hopkins (Terra Alta, WV: The Hill and Dale Private Press and Typefoundry, 2008). This is a comprehensive table of Lanston cellular matrix markings and the standard C-C case arrangement, discovered and reprinted by Rich Hopkins.
Table of Type Sizes
"Table of Type Sizes." ([probably:] Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, n.d.) This is a 300dpi JPEG reduction of my original 1200dpi PNG scan; it is perfectly readable, but if for some reason you need the original scan please contact me.
Monotype Unit sizes in decimal inches from 1 to 22 Units for type set sizes from 5 to 12 1/2 Set. These data are the same as those presented in Table of Type Sizes, below (but in a more modern, less beautiful, table).
Table of Type Sizes
"Table of Type Sizes." ([probably:] Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, n.d.) This was printed originally on one side of a hanging card along with the Table of Set Factors, below. This is a 300dpi JPEG reduction of my original 1200dpi PNG scan; it is perfectly readable, but if for some reason you need the original scan please contact me. This document, scanned here from my own paper copy, is the same as the Table of Type Sizes / Table of Set Factors reprinted by Rich Hopkins (see below), although his version bears a printing code (865-500) and mine does not. These data are the same as those presented in Table of Type Sizes, above.
Monotype Unit sizes in decimal inches from 1 to 22 Units for type set sizes from 5 to 12 1/2 Set.
Table of Set Factors
"Table of Type Sizes." ([probably:] Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, n.d.) This was printed originally on one side of a hanging card along with the Table of Type Sizes, above. This is a 300dpi JPEG reduction of my original 1200dpi PNG scan; it is perfectly readable, but if for some reason you need the original scan please contact me. This document, scanned here from my own paper copy, is the same as the Table of Type Sizes / Table of Set Factors reprinted by Rich Hopkins (see below), although his version bears a printing code (865-500) and mine does not.
"SET FACTOR is the set multiplied by the unit width; thus, the set factor for a character made for the ten-unit row of eight-set is eighty (10x8=80)." The paragraph referred to in this table is paragraph 63 of The Monotype System in both the 1912 and 1916 editions.
Tables of Type Sizes / Table of Set Factors (Lanston/Hopkins)
[NOT REPRINTED HERE] "Table of Type Sizes" and "Table of Set Factors." (Philadelphia, PA: Lanston Monotype Machine Company, n.d.) Lanston Monotype printing code "865-500". Reprinted by Rich Hopkins (Terra Alta, WV: The Hill and Dale Private Press and Typefoundry, 2007).
Varigear Attachment / Casting Speeds
"'Monotype' Varigear Attachment" (recto) and "Average Casting Speeds for Moulds Used on Composition and Type and Rule Casters." This contains Lubrication and General Instructions for the Speed Reduction Unit and the 'Monotype' Varigear variable speed unit. On the verso it contains charts of recommended average speed values for material from 1 1/2 point lead/rule through 36 point display type.
Unfortunately, this is an English publication which is still in copyright in the US, so I cannot reprint it.
My thanks to Kevin Martin of The Papertrail Handmade Paper and Book Arts for preserving this document.
Hopkins. Casting a Font of Type
Casting a Font of Type. Hopkins, Richard L. Casting a Font of Type. Terra Alta, WV: Hill and Dale Private Press and Typefoundry. Film, 84 min. total on the Schlesinger DVD.
The first half of this film concerns casting a font of type on the Thompson Type-Caster (though it has good information on general matrix identification as well). The second half concerns casting a font of type (vs. composed matter) on the Lanston Monotype Composition Caster. Then there is a third part to the Schlesinger DVD, not a part of the original film, which is an autobiographical sketch by Hopkins with many shots of his commercial business, The Pioneer Press (using at this time 1980s-vintage computer-driven phototypesetting and offset printing). The main film also shows, briefly, the Monotype composition caster, Monotype display caster ("Orphan Annie"), Supercaster, and Monomatic II.
A Monotype Composition Caster in operation. Matrix cases (15x15, 15x17, reference to English 16x17; Monomatic (18x18) / Monomatic II (also 18x18 in two parts)). American vs. English ("side-hole") mats; double mats; quadruple mats. Unit width mat case arrangement; Monomatic frequency-of-use mat case arrangement. Wedges, Stopbars, Unit Count Wheels / Justification Scale ("Drums"), and their correspondences (also the Keyboard setup (stopbar [he mistakenly says "keybar" here], justification scale, keybar, keybanks ("keybuttons")). Keyboarding (here he keyboards a font, not composed matter). Setup of the Composition Caster (again, here casting a font rather than composed matter). Casting quads with the mat case disconnected; checking set width against a steel standard. Checking vertical alignment, using 'H' and a steel line standard. Checking horizontal alignment using two 'H' characters back to back. No fonting required.
Available from Carl Schlesinger; see ../../../../typemaking/bibliography/index#hopkins-casting-a-font-of-type.
Monotype. Casting Good Type
Casting Good Type. Redhill, Surrey, England: The Monotype Corporation Limited, [no date]. With the cooperation of Fry's Metal Foundries, Limited. Film.
Typemetal and assaying (including X-Ray Fluorescence). Dangers of zinc or brass in typemetal. Cleaning and adjusting the melting pot, pump, etc. of the Composition Caster. Matrix damage. Warning not to use all-steel blank matrices in constant-height moulds. Cleaning mats. Remelt, with fluxing. Spectrographic assaying (discharge, not x-ray fluorescence). Space wedge adjustment.
"For the performance of his machine is reflected in a man's life. When one is sweet-running and productive, so is the other."
Available from Carl Schlesinger; see ../../../../typemaking/bibliography/index#monotype-casting-good-type
Monotype. Handle with Care
Handle with Care. Salfords, Surrey, England: The Monotype Corporation Limited, [no date]. Film. It describes in great detail the care, disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly of the (English) Monotype Composition Caster mould. Although a couple of the jokes near the beginning fall flat, this is generally one of the better pieces of technical communication I've seen. Do be aware, though, that it recommends the use of benzene as a cleaning solvent (and illustrates it with the washing of parts with bare hands!) Since then it has been discovered that benzene is carcinogenic, and it should no longer be used as a solvent.
Available from Carl Schlesinger; see ../../../../typemaking/bibliography/index#monotype-handle-with-care.
Monotype. 'Making Sure'
'Making Sure' At the Monotype Works. Salfords, Surrey, England: The Monotype Corporation Limited, [no date]. Film. A promotional film showing the Monotype Works at Salfords. This is really only semi-technical, unless one is doing industrial forensics to attempt to understand how components were manufactured (the 3-inch square opening in the matrix case was broached!)
Available from Carl Schlesinger; see ../../../../typemaking/bibliography/index#making-sure.
The books The Monotype System (1912) and Operating the Monotype Keyboard (1913) digitized by Google are in the public domain. The local copies of the Google digitizations of them presented here remain in the public domain.
The following are in the public domain due to the expiration of all possible copyright in the US, their place of publication. The digital reprints of them here remain in the public domain.: The reprints of the Plates from The Monotype System (1912, 1916) done by CircuitousRoot from the originals. Instructions for Dismantling, Assembling and Adjusting the Monotype Casting Machine (1918).
The following were published in the US without copyright notice at a time when such notice was required to secure copyright. They therefore passed into the public domain upon initial publication. The digital reprints of them here remain in the public domain.: Function and Operation of the 15-17 Casting Machine, Directions for Care and Cleaning The Style 1E Composition Mold . Directions for Care and Cleaning The Style 2E Non-Adjustable Composition Mold . Directions for Care and Cleaning The Style 3E Composition Mold . "Applying New Type Channel Xa51F." "Take Down Caster As Follows..." Justified Letter-Spacing, a15KU, material. Course materials marked {Skyline-Harlowe}. "Table of Type Sizes." "Table of Type Sizes / Table of Set Factors."
The following were in copyright when originally published in the US, but their copyright was not renewed as would then have been required to secure its continuance. They therefore passed into the public domain upon the expiration of their initial copyright term: Detail Plates [of] The Monotype Casting Machine (11th ed., 1928).
All portions of this document not noted otherwise are Copyright © 2010-2011 by David M. MacMillan and Rollande Krandall.
Circuitous Root is a Registered Trademark of David M. MacMillan and Rollande Krandall.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons "Attribution - ShareAlike" license. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ for its terms.
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