[Libri] FW: Hot Metal Day

[James R. Kelly]

Posting from the Museum of Printing, North Andover

http://www.museumofprinting.org/


 

Hot Metal Day
See the 8th wonder of the world.

When we say hot metal we mean 625-degree molten lead being transformed into
type. The way type was created for nearly 75 years. Not just one machine,
two; both a Linotype and a Ludlow.

Mark Twain declared the Linotype t the 8th wonder of the world.

It is said to have 10,000 parts and most of them move. And when they do
there is a cacophony of sights and sounds as the freshly cast slugs, still
warm, slide from the machine, listen to the matrices drop into the
assembler, hear the plink, plink, plink of the used matrices being
redistributed mechanically.

The Linotype hot metal typecasting machine was THE typesetting machine for
nearly 75 years, and is still used in parts of the world. This is how type
for newspapers, books, magazines and just about anything printed was created
before phototypesetting and computers.

The Ludlow is quieter and not as fast but creates type up to 72 points (one
inch) high. Its individual matrices are bigger and heavier than the
Linotypes. Hold one in your hand you realize this is meant for seriously big
characters. Yet it still has its peculiar hissing when the hot lead is
injected into the mold, and a small thud as the newly cast matt slides into
the injector.

Hot metal demonstrations will run from 11-2 on Saturday, November 30th, held
in conjunction with the museum's winter Type and Letterpress Sale at the
Museum of Printing, 800 Massachusetts Ave, North Andover, MA 01845.
www.museumofprinting.org

Hot Metal Day is held in conjunction with our Fall Type and Letterpress
Sale. The store is open from 10 am to 3:30 pm.


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