Typesetting Machines, The Linotype And Monotype

( Originally Published 1913 )

EVERY large daily newspaper, and many books and pamphlets, are not hand-set, but are set by the linotype, monotype, or typesetting machine.

The linotype, commonly used in newspaper offices, and costing three thousand dollars and upwards, casts a complete line of type. The operator sits before a keyboard resembling that of a typewriter. When he presses a key, a brass matrix drops into a receiver, and, when sufficient matrices have been set, the operator presses a lever, and this line of matrices is automatically cast into a line of letters. The other lines are set and cast in the same way. The matrices are automatically distributed to be set again. A single operator can set four thousand ems per hour of regular reading matter.

This is exceeded, but four thousand is a good average. As the " em " is the largest letter, one thousand " ems " (the technical term used) would require the setting of fifteen hundred or more letters and spaces.

The first-class hand-compositor sets eight hundred ems an hour, and the record speed is about two thousand.

The great newspaper maintains batteries of a dozen linotypes, or two or three times that number. All of the reading matter is set on the lino-type, and many of the headings, some linotypes having faces as large as 72 Point, but few of the machines carry those larger than 60 Point.

Many linotypes are made with several magazines, each holding a set of matrices, so that many faces and sizes may be set by the same machine.

Many books are set on the linotype, as the work of this machine is satisfactory if the book is not to be printed upon coated or hard paper.

The lead used in the linotype is melted over again, with only a slight waste.

The monotype is similar, and yet different, from the linotype. The operator sits in front of a keyboard, and each key when pressed makes an impression on a roll of paper similar to that used for the automatic piano-player. This roll is placed in another machine, which automatically casts and sets single type. The speed of the monotype is about that of the linotype. The monotype is admirably adapted to book work, partly because its work is as easily corrected as is that of hand-set type, while a correction made on the linotype requires the resetting and recasting of an entire line.

Many newspapers are set on the monotype exclusively, and other newspapers employ both the linotype and monotype.

Comparatively few books nowadays are hand-set, either the monotype or linotype being used. Notwithstanding this, the sale of ordinary type is on the increase, neither, of these automatic setting machines seeming to interfere with its output.

Most of the country newspapers are printed directly from hand-set type, but the larger ones are set on the linotype or monotype, without the forms being stereotyped.

Several country newspapers use typesetting machines, which set regular type, and do not cast either single letters or lines.

Nothing in this chapter must be construed as making an unfavorable comparison between either the monotype, the linotype, or hand-set type, for each process has its individual use and advantages; but type is no longer hand-set in the offices of the leading newspapers, and the linotype and mono-type are now being used very extensively by book and magazine publishers. Hand-set type, however, maintains its supremacy in quality of result, but machine-set and -made type answers the purpose in many cases.