Monotype Composition Matrices and Wooden Cases

[Miranda]

Hi, I have some monotype composition matrices with their wooden cases and I was wondering if these might be of interest to anyone. They belonged to my parents who used to have a printing company a long time ago. Just want to make sure they go to a good home. Any ideas for any printing museums or other organisations that might find them of interest/useful?

[Dave Hughes]

Hi Miranda, and welcome to the Forum.

Am I right in presuming that you are from the UK? If so, which part? There may be someone with an operational Monotype machine nearby who could make use of the items.

[David Bolton]

Not sure how useful the pieces might be - the stopbars and keybars look rather rusty. The sorts box is rather empty, but what typeface is in it, and what faces and sizes are in the matrix cases - the label on one box is too faint to read the face and size. Knowing all that might help find a good home. If really no luck, then rather than scrap them, I could possibly help, but where are you located?

David Bolton
Oxford

[Miranda]

Hi thank you so much for your replies. I am so sorry I have no idea what the typeface is or the size, I just don't know what I am looking at sadly. My father was apprenticed as a printer in the 1950's and worked in printing all his life. He died in 1993 and I found these in my mother's garage recently but we don't really know anything about them.

I am in Basingstoke in Hampshire. If there is anyone nearby that would like them they would be most welcome to have them. Just want to see them go to a good home. If they are of no use to anyone though then that's okay, just good to know!

[David Bolton]

Hello Miranda, If there is nothing written on the boxes, one can identify the typeface and size by looking at one of the matrices (the small bronze pieces that are stored in the boxes and frames), as the type series number and size is engraved on one side of the matrix.

Possibly the face and size has also been engraved on the side of the diecases. You are looking for something like 327 8 which indicates Times New Roman 8pt.

If you happened to make a trip to Oxford (or Abingdon), we could open things up and see what was what.

David Bolton