The Printing Stewards - appeal

[Dave Hughes]

Forum member @Val Lucas is involved in this project to preserve the American Type Founders (ATF) collection of matrices and machinery.

They have a Patreon page where you can make a donation to this worthwhile project. Membership starts at $3 per month and there is also a free membership option.

I've got to admit I know very little about the Barth Typecaster machines that are being preserved. I guess they were machines that were only found at type foundries, and not print shops.

Here's a great Instagram post that gives you a taste of the project:

View this post on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9Z9S0URRzi/

And, if like me, you know very little about the Barth typecaster, here is a video from David MacMillan:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfsZfqG4x0E

[Val Lucas]

Thanks for sharing this, Dave! I didn't know much about Barth casters either until I was able to make the trip to Piqua to see them.

David MacMillan had just worked on the 24pt machine in Antwerp, and together we did a thorough assessment of the machines here in Greg Walters' collection, now preserved by The Printing Stewards.

The Barth automatics were all from ATF, acquired at the auction in 93 or later. They were running day and night to produce the massive amount of type needed by ATF.

Some machines had then been converted to zinc casting by Kingsley, for foil stamping. These were never meant to exist outside the foundry.

Our goal is to fix up as many as possible and cast type with them again, from the original ATF and other foundry mats in the collection as well!

The upcoming relaunch of the ATF Newsletter will include a Census and general overview of the Barth casters by David MacMillan.

Https://americantypecastingfellowship.org

Here is the 72 point Barth:

[Dave Hughes]

Thank you for the additional information and the picture of what I assume is the largest typecaster.

It would be wonderful to see these machines producing type again, but I hope it won't negatively affect the businesses that currently produce and supply Monotype type.

I'm excited to see how this project develops!

[Geoff Quadland]

I would be interested in knowing how many Barth casters are still in the USA, and where they are.

Also, is there a list of ATF mats for the Barth, other than those in the Smithsonian, which are in the USA and conceivably available for use? (I'm drooling over the thought of more great fonts which could eventually be available).

[Dave Hughes]

Here's some great pictures of a selection of the decorative mats in the collection, posted on Instagram by @Val Lucas (Bowerbox Press):

View this post on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9aFzCDxaGf/

[Val Lucas]

I would be interested in knowing how many Barth casters are still in the USA, and where they are.

Also, is there a list of ATF mats for the Barth, other than those in the Smithsonian, which are in the USA and conceivably available for use? (I'm drooling over the thought of more great fonts which could eventually be available).

David MacMillan is compiling a history and census of the remaining Barths, to be published in the ATF Newsletter this fall and later in more depth on his website. I believe there are 25 remaining machines in the world, in various states of repair. As far as I know none in the US are yet running. The Printing Stewards have a list of the mats in the Greg Walters Collection here: https://printingstewards.org/gregtype/Matrices/

There is also a significant batch that was saved from the Smithsonian storage facility and now in CA at the Printing Museum, but not a good list yet.

[Val Lucas]

Also, no need to worry about competing with Monotype businesses - this is going to be a long project, and will focus on casting things that are not available anywhere or any other way. We want to support all casters in their efforts to make new type.

[Dave Hughes]

Here the Printing Stewards try to document where the ATF matrices have ended up. The shock headline for me is that "Roughly 70% of all ATF typefaces are lost."

View this post on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-y2hggM8Ms/

[drewdavis]

Thanks Dave Hughes for giving me this additional information!

[Dave Hughes]

The Printing Stewards have recently been taking a look at a pivotal type caster which was rescued from the Gujarati Type Foundry in India. Although the machine was unfortunately damaged in transit it is very old and rare.

View this post on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBES8QkRrV7/