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.
The operator selected the right matrices, and put them in a stick-shaped holder to build up a line of type.
The line was then cast. Whittaker produced two models: one that used Intertype and Linotype matrices, and one that used Ludlow matrices.
The machine was marketed in Britain to small newspapers that could not afford the more costly Ludlow machine.
Originally called the Display Caster, the machine was dubbed “Mickey Mouse” by the staff of the Yorkshire Observer. There is no record of why, but it may be because of its feet and silhouette.
I haven’t seen this one before. I could not locate it on the forum. Do these predate Linotype’s APL early 1930’s?
Dave I found the answer The Whittaker machines predate the APL by about 10 years. Of course I found the answer on Metal Type
I never saw one in the wild, but do remember someone mentioning the machine when I worked at the Yorkshire Evening Press in the 1970s. The answer to which came first is on this page: The Whittaker Collection
I used one in the 1960s on the Ardrossan & Saltcoats before we moved on to Compugraphic typesetters – sold in the UK by Whittaker’s of Leeds.
Worked on a Mickey Mouse, at Cheshire Observer. In the late 60’s early 70’s. Simple operation, by memory 18pt-48pt. Anything bigger was produced on a Nebitype.