Coming Soon - The Desk Model Fotosetter

[Dave Hughes]

I'm currently working on a page for the main website about the little-known Intertype Desk Model Fotosetter Photographic Line Composing Machine.

I am sure not many of these will have been sold, and would be very surprised if there are any still around.

It was designed to be the photosetting equivalent of a Ludlow Typograph setup.

Has anyone ever used one? Do you know of one that has been preserved? Let us know.

[jaap lieverse]

This is a very interesting, curious device, looking forward to see and read more about it.

Thanks, Jaap Lieverse

[Dave Hughes]

Thanks Jaap, the new page shouldn't be too long now.

I was hoping someone might have had experience seeing one of these in action.

[realdougwilson]

Speaking with Frank Romano quickly about this, he says, "It was for display type. Never sold. The prototype got such bad reviews that it was never officially marketed. Interesting approach however."

I've asked for further information or images of the machine and will report back if anything comes up. Looking forward to learning anything further from the upcoming page. @Dave Hughes

[Mark K. Digre]

Quite a bit of technical information can be gleaned from Intertype's patents for this device.  The main US patent is number 2672795.  The composing stick patents are 2632368 and 2638824.  Many elements of the machine are identical to parts of the Fotosetter, which is covered by its own batch of patents dating from the 1930s to the 1950s.

[Dave Hughes]

Thanks Mark and @realdougwilson for the additional info.

The patent documents throw more light on things (unintentional pun!) and Frank's input, as always, a great insight.

I first noticed this machine towards the back of this brochure, where it was explained how it works and how it was used in a total of four paragraphs!

I was hoping to gain some more information from people who had seen them "in the wild" but, following Frank's comments, I can safely rule that out.

I did think that the "film carriage" part looked very similar to that of the linecaster-based machine, nice to have that confirmed.

In the patent details it is stated that as well as display lines etc. it could be used for setting the Chinese or Japanese language where the number of different characters needed is greater than the keys on a linecaster keyboard.