Category: Historical

Launched as one of a range of ’70’ series linecasters, the model 79 was specifically designed for use with Teletypesetting (TTS). During TTS a perforated tape was passed through a special attachment on the linecaster. The perforation activated a keyboard and selected the appropriate matrices.

A keyboard operator perforated the tape, encrypting the original text in a series of dots. The tape could be transmitted by telegraph to a reperforator in the printer’s office, which replicated the perforated tape. It was then passed to the linecaster operator. Read the Full Article . . .

The C4 had four magazines allowing type up to 18 point, and used sliding carriages to help ease the changing of magazines.

A High-Speed version was introduced in 1954 that used Teletypesetting (TTS). TTS is a means of automatically selecting matrices using perforated tape running through a special attachment on the machine. Read the Full Article . . .

Intertype Models F, G and H were introduced in 1936. They had four magazines and a double distributor.

The G4 4SM, with its additional four magazine side unit, was announced in 1938. It had two widths of main magazines: a 72-channel magazine for fonts up to 36 point, and a 90-channel for standard sized fonts. Read the Full Article . . .

Introduced in 1935, the Model 48 could hold up to seven magazines.

The Whittaker machine is the standard model with four magazines, but a side unit holding another three magazines was available. Read the Full Article . . .

The “Mickey Mouse” was a linecaster that was used to produce display or outsize type up to 60 point. It was invented by M.H. Whittaker.

The “Mickey Mouse” was built using old, stripped-down star-based Model 1 Linotypes. They included several inventions patented by Whittaker. The matrices were kept in cabinets separate to the machine. Read the Full Article . . .

The Model 4 was introduced in 1908. It was the first hot-metal linecaster with the capacity to hold three magazines of matrices. It had a single distributor to return matrices to their magazines after use.

An automatic font distributor prevented the matrices entering the wrong magazine. The Model 4 was the first machine to be equipped with an automatic quadder. Read the Full Article . . .

John R. Rogers invented the Typograph in 1890. It was a simple linecaster, and so cheaper to buy than more complex machines. The Typograph was marketed to small print shops rather than to newspaper printers.

Its matrices were suspended on wires. As the operator selected characters from the keyboard, the corresponding matrix slid down the wire to the assembly point. After use the operator tilted back the frame of wires, and the matrices slid back to their original positions. Read the Full Article . . .

Built in Manchester, this Square-Based Model 1 Linotype is one of the first British-made linecasters. The model’s square base was later made smaller, and then changed to a star shape.

Model 1 Linotypes had a 90-character keyboard. The back-loaded single magazine could take matrices up to 11 point in type size. Read the Full Article . . .

THE WHITTAKER COLLECTION of linecasters was put together by Mr H Peter Whittaker whose company sold and repaired linecasters.

The collection is currently in storage room 2 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

To see the various machines, use the Related Pages menu. Read the Full Article . . .