New York Times Mats

[Dave Hughes]

Interesting eBay item here.


Advertiser's Description:

Ligatures from the New York Times - old linotype ligatures that were used on the Mergenthaler Linotype machines. These are from the New York Times, and were retired from use in the early 1970s. Ligatures had more than one letter on each piece; this was usually for certain combinations of letters so that they would appear consistently in the printed page. Combinations such as TA FA VA WA often were on ligatures. In this case, the New York Times wanted a consistent way of showing their name, with precise spacing. Hence these ligature pieces.

This lot is a group of 4, using a serif font style, which create the phrase  "The New York Times".

This image is actually the backs, with the printed text on each ligature

This shows the actual side that would be printed onto the first plate (that would later be reversed in creating the actual curved printing press plate).  The New  is shown. The other two are on their sides, you can see where the indented area is that would result in the printed image. Note also the wear, these exhibit the use over years of time. The notches also were used to auto-sort after use, into trays for the next use.

[Jeff Zilles [jeffo]]

Interesting - they appear to be pi mats, so that in my shop - nothing fancy or high-tech here - they'd have to go into the assembler by hand.

Nice collector's item though

jeffo