This is a great little video of a Russian made (?) line casting machine. Thanks to Bill Spurling for passing on the link. Check out the safety guard that flips into place over the mold and vise before casting.
Linomite
I noticed a slight little build up of type metal on the pump plunger rod when I started casting this evening, and after a couple hours of casting lines this is what that build up became:
Linomite! It was enough to restrict the plunger from returning to its fullest upward position. Gotta keep an eye on this next time. I'm guessing that this happened because the pot was a bit too cool. I'll test the theory next time we cast. Otherwise, anyone out there have tips on how to prevent this?
Ancient compositor's knot
This is a set of space bands lovingly tied up by an operator of the Stumptown Printer's model 31 long before we owned the machine. It's an example of marlinspike seamanship by an old Linotype salt. I hadn't had the heart (or need) to disrupt this tidy knot before today, but we needed the bands and so this is the documentation of the touch of a craftsman from years ago. We brought the bands to the C.C. Stern Type Foundry to use with the machine there. I believe that the old salt would approve.
Today's message to the model 31
I managed to get a couple lines off of the machine today, but printing, die cutting, hand bindery and prepress took the lion's share of shop time. I don't like to fire up the machine unless we have at least a handful if slugs to cast. Next time...
The properly justified slug
Got it! The properly justified slug
Resilient Mold Cam Adjustment
Resilient Mold Cam Adjustment
Teachers
Consulting with the teachers
Handy Illustration of First-Elevator Cam
This illustration is a useful reference if you are in the back of the machine and cycling it by hand, and you need to know when to stop cycling(!) By looking at this cam, you can determine when the first elevator is resting on the vise cap, or when the justifications take place, etc. This illustration is scanned from the Intertype Book of Instruction, page 46.
Release the pressure of pot lever spring
Still trouble shooting - But first! Release the pressure of pot lever spring!
Testing proper clearance between the face of the mold and vise jaws
Still Trouble Shooting. Testing proper clearance between the face of the mold and vise jaws
Page 150
Hydraquadder causing the problem?
Trouble shooting....
The Trouble Line
Occasionally while running the machine, I've experienced a "no cast". This happened randomly, or at least it seemed to be random, because after a second attempt to cast the same line often the machine would give in and produce the slug. When it didn't cast a second time, I would switch it up slightly and maybe add a thin space, etc. and I could get it to go. It didn't happen frequently enough for me to explore the issue until recently. The line pictured above is the one that stopped me and got me to look into the problem.
In this case I was setting 10pt on 10pt mold, 18 pica width, first position. I was using standard justification with the hydraquadder off. As you can see, it's a full line, 6 space bands with less than a pica to go. I sent the same line through as it is pictured (but recreated with different matrices) several times. No go. Other lines that seemed to be similar length and spacing did go, so it was a mystery to me why this one would not.
More details to come....
Linotype Drive Belt
I'm in the process of tracking down belt material for the main drive belt. I stopped in on our local supplier Empire Rubber where the crew there presented me with a bunch of great info and options. Good guys and a good resource. With their help, I should be able to match the lacing and material.
Update:
The belt that I ended up using was:
Empire Rubber's item number: 20045012
Description: 4/140 II Tan FSxFS 1.5" W
Flexco Clipper Lace was used, added to trim length of 79.5"
Friend Ivan Snyder giving the Linotype a go
Friend Ivan Snyder giving the Linotype a go a video by Stumptown Printers on Flickr.
Here's our pal Ivan Snyder sitting at the Stumptown Printers Linotype. This guy has volunteered more time, sweat, muscle, know-how, equipment, etc. to the current Portland printing community than any one I know. He has helped usher in a new generation of Portland letterpress printers who appreciate the real deal and love working with metal type. Thanks Ivan!
Close Up Of Litter Poems Proof 1
Another photo from our Flickr archives. These lines were cast shortly after rebuilding the keyboard (the first time). What a thrill to pull these proofs and get satisfactory results from the machine for the first time!
Bicycle Transportation Alliance pin packaging
Printing from slugs cast on our Linotype. Spartan Book 10pt and 12pt. Looks fairly clean here, but as I recall we had to spend a bit of time removing hairlines.
Notes to self: inventory mats before running
Tonight I tried running new-to-me mats. I have a better idea of how many mats fit in a half magazine, because I discovered that I had way too many. I bet there is a lower case "e" count that would allow one to quickly determine if there are too many mats to fit. So, self, check it out. Also, please inventory mats before taking the time to load them into a magazine. After what appeared to be a full font, I discovered I only have one (.). This is a problem. Anyway. Always learning. But never seem to learn that you can never have enough patience for this machine.
Identifying Linotype Spacebands
The spacebands that I have here at the shop are 4 lines. I assumed that the number of identifying lines marked in the side of the spaceband correspond with the thickness of the space. Nope. I was wrong. The breakdown is below. Info from "Linotype Keyboard Operation" book.
One Line: Thick
Minimum .0375
Maximum .1035
For Normal spacing of medium size faces where close spacing is not required.
Two Lines: Extra Thin
Minimum .028
Maximum .0943
For close spacing. Recommended for offices doing good book and job work and those using small faces.
Three Lines: Extra Thick
Minimum .046
Maximum .146
Used only for large display faces where wide spacing is required.
Four Lines: Special Taper
Minimum .0369
Maximum .1219
Similar to the wide range (see below) but a little thicker at both minimum and maximum points.
Five Lines: Wide Range
Minimum .0345
Maximum .1194
Gives extreme flexibility of spacing. Thin enough for close spacing, with ample range of expansion for wide spacing.
Trust the spacebands....
Below is a scan of a proof of some lines cast this past weekend for a friend. 8pt Linotype Paragon set on 23 pica line, regular justification. I let the space bands do their work, and wanted to learn their tolerances and get used to how a line would space out according to how many spaces bands were used vs. word size, etc. I figured this face could handle some "gappy" word spaces, but I was surprised at how this composition appears fairly consistent. Even though there are some lines with ambitious word spacing, none of them stand out as being too obnoxious with noticeable "holes" or "rivers" in the composition.
What I learned: generally speaking, space bands have a "spread" of 3 pts, so if you have at least 5 space bands in a line, they will easily take up a pica worth of space. I'll add a separate post which will describe the markings and different thickness of Linotype spacebands.
Another thing I was reminded of after setting these lines are the rules for indentation. For commercial work, the rule of thumb is to indent paragraphs by an em for lines set up to 20 picas. 1.5 ems for lines up to 25 picas, and 2 ems for lines above 25 picas. Of course depending on type size, leading, etc. there are exceptions. But after looking at the paragraphs I set below, I think my 2 em indentations are a bit too aggressive. I referenced the book "Linotype Keyboard Operation" for the refresher.
Oh, after clicking on this photo to take a closer look, I noticed something else. See the lower case "i" with a problem? I'll have to run the mats out and have a look at them.
Portland, Oregon Premier of Linotype: The Film
Speaking of the American Typecasting Fellowship Conference, here's a conference event that is open to the public. Should be a fun time, and a good way to keep cool tomorrow.
Portland, Oregon Premier of:
Linotype: The Film
When: Thursday, August 16th
Time: 6pm doors, Meet & Greet | 7:00pm Screening followed by Q&A
Where: McMenamins Kennedy School Theater | 5736 N.E. 33rd Ave.
Admission cost: $10 (Free to conference attendees)
(advance tickets available at Stumptown Printers or online)
Film Screening, Meet & Greet with Linotype operators and master craft printers from around the country and here at home. Also Q&A with “Linotype: The Film” filmmaker
Plus! After the film, Kyle Durrie will have her "Moveable Type Truck" on site, and will invite folks aboard to print a commemorative Linotype keepsake.
Presented by the C. C. Stern Type Foundry in conjunction with the American Typecasting Fellowship Conference, and is funded in part by the Regional Arts & Culture Council.
Linotype: The Film is a feature-length documentary centered around the Linotype type composing machine. Called the “Eighth Wonder of the World” by Thomas Edison, it revolutionized printing and society. The film tells the charming and emotional story of the people connected to the Linotype and how it impacted the world.
C.C. Stern Type Foundry Located in Portland, Oregon, The C.C. Stern Type Foundry is a working museum dedicated to preserving the art and industry of the cast letterform, letterpress type. With one of the largest collections of Monotype casting matrices in the United States, the C.C. Stern Type Foundry honors the memory of C. Christopher Stern, who built and operated the foundry at Stern & Faye, Printers of Sedro-Woolley, Washington.
2012 American Typecasting Fellowship Conference Since 1978, The American Typecasting Fellowship Conference is a biennial meeting of enthusiasts, amateur and professional, interested in all aspects of the making of metal type used for letterpress printing. This group is central to what is becoming a renaissance of typefounding in America.
Poster Composition cast on the Stumptown Printers' Linotype Model 31