Intertype Factory, 1966

Intertype Factory
A chaotic-looking corner of the factory.

Many thanks to Stan Coutant for allowing these photographs to be used on Metal Type. Stan was an Intertype Operator from 1959 to 1978 – a period he describes as “one of the most enjoyable and rewarding jobs I have ever had.”

In Stan’s own words: “In 1966 I had occasion to travel to New York, my first and only trip to the East Coast. Since there was adequate time before I departed, I wrote to the folks at Intertype Corporation and asked about taking a tour of the factory. Read the Full Article . . .

Blue Streak Model 29 & 30

Blue Streak
THE Blue Streak Model 29 Mixer is designed for continuous mixed composition of body matter and display faces.

The material on this page is taken from a brochure published in circa 1960 by the Mergenthaler Linotype Company. The brochure showcased the company’s latest machines and innovations, including the Linofilm System.

The most varied and complex typesetting is simple for the 29, and is set directly from the keyboard.
Food-store ads, technical composition and dictionary work requiring roman, italic, bold, accents and special characters in the same line – the versatile 29 handles such difficult composition efficiently and economically. Read the Full Article . . .

Blue Streak Comet

Blue Streak
Linotype’s exclusive Mat-Glide System smoothly speeds the circulation of matrices, the key to profitable high-speed production. Mat-Glide also assures the smooth action that preserves matrix life as well as the machine itself . . . and assures trouble free operation at maximum speeds.

The material on this page is taken from a brochure published in circa 1960 by the Mergenthaler Linotype Company. The brochure showcased the company’s latest machines and innovations.

The new, two-magazine Blue Streak Comet Linotype is the fast straight matter machine. Read the Full Article . . .

The Semagraph

Semagraph
IN June 1932, Everyday Science and Mechanics reported on a new photoelectronic cell reader called the Semagraph, which was an automatic typesetter operating unit.

Many thanks to George Finn for contributing this article.

Copy (1) prepared on a special typewriter was fed into the machine, guided by sprocket holes each side of the sheet, similar to continuous stationery. Read the Full Article . . .