Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
7-7 Monotype keyboard.
7-8 Monotype matrix case.
Monotype
Another significant achievement leading to fully automated typesetting
was the Monotype machine, invented by Tolbert Lanston in 1887. This
machine cast one character at a time rather than an entire line. It was
composed of two parts: a keyboard and a typecaster (Fig. 7-7 ). When an
operator typed at a keyboard, a perforated paper tape was generated.
This coded tape was used to drive the second part of the system—the
typecaster. Compressed air, blown through the punched holes of this
revolving spool of coded paper, determined which characters would
be cast by the typecaster. Actual casting of type occurred when hot
metal was forced into matrices from the matrix case (Fig. 7-8 ). Once the
cast characters had cooled, they were placed into a metal tray called a
galley, where the lines were assembled. Monotype lines could reach a
maximum length of about sixty picas.
Monotype became an efficient way to set type for several reasons.
Corrections could be made by changing individual letters instead
of complete lines. Therefore, complex typesetting, such as scientific
data and tabular information, was easier. The Monotype matrix case
held many more characters than a Linotype magazine, and the casting
machine was relatively fast, casting 150 characters per minute. Since
the system consisted of two separate machines, an operator could
generate type away from the clatter of the casting machine. In fact,
several operators could keyboard information for later setting.
Ludlow
Ludlow, a semiautomatic linecaster, is another machine that found a
place in the development of automated typesetting (Fig. 7-9 ). Unlike
the Linotype and Monotype, the Ludlow did not have a keyboard
but combined both hand and machine production. An operator took
matrices from a matrix case similar to a handset type case and placed
them into a special composing stick, one by one. The stick would
automatically justify or center lines by inserting blank matrices where
necessary. Once a line of matrices was assembled, it was placed into a
casting device where it was automatically cast into slugs. If a correction
was necessary, matrices were inserted into the stick, cast, locked up,
and printed. Although partially automated, this process was time-
consuming. Distributing the matrices back into the type case by hand
added to the production time.
Type produced by the Ludlow machine ranged from 6 to 144
points. Its major use was to produce display type for headlines and
other purposes requiring larger typefaces. As was true in the case of
handset composition, the Ludlow was neither practical nor efficient
for setting large volumes of type.
7-9 Ludlow linecaster.
 
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