Composition Archives - Page 4 of 14

The Whittaker “Mickey Mouse”

Whittaker Micky Mouse — MANUFACTURED in 1925.

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 . . .

Linotype Model 4

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 . . .

The Typograph

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 . . .

Linotype Square-Based Model 1

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

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 . . .

Withy Grove, Manchester – 2

Paul Bailey setting the Telegraph TV guide.

Many thanks to Paul Bailey for sharing these photographs. Says Paul: “Hi, found your site a while ago, I started work at Withy Grove Press, Thomson House, Manchester as an apprentice Monotype Caster & Keyboard Operator in the jobbing section, then I moved (upstairs) to the day composing and linotype section, then finally onto nights as a keyboard op on the national dailies.

I knew I had taken some photos, but I had handed them all out to the lads as mementos when Withy Grove closed down. But having recently purchased a neg scanner to digitise family photos, I found the negs of the ones I had taken at Withy Grove. Read the Full Article . . .