Monotype Machine [Super Caster]
Maker and role
The Monotype Corporation Limited, Manufacturer
Production date
Post 1928
Circa 1934
Object detail
Accession number
2014.537
Description
Black metal machine body embossed 'MONOTYPE' (x3). Machine has pistons, levers, dials, wheels ,wood handles etc, grey 'on/off' switch, blue motor with red sticker 'Serviced & Maintained by North shore electric motor services'. A cardboard box of parts sits on top of machine, piece of [lead] sits on part of machine, black canvas bag 'RoNo // "500" // DUPLICATOR' covers part of machine, on body of machine 'OIL // CAMS GEARS' is embossed.
Maker's Plate - 'SUPER MONOTYPE CASTER // THE MONOTYPE CORP LTD. LONDON. // PATENTED // ... // REGISTERED TRADE MARK MONOTYPE', a plate on a part of machine reads 'MANUFACTURED BY // THE BRITISH // ROTOTHERM // CO. LTD. // LONDON // WATTS 3000 // VOLTS 440 480 SERIES // VOLTS 220 240 PARRALLEL // MADE IN ENGLAND', another plate on another part of machine reads 'BELT SPEED 2.4H - 144 R.P.M. // R.P.M. CONTROL 1.3.H // R.P.M. CONTROL 2.3.G. // 125 //....// CF'
Maker's Plate - 'SUPER MONOTYPE CASTER // THE MONOTYPE CORP LTD. LONDON. // PATENTED // ... // REGISTERED TRADE MARK MONOTYPE', a plate on a part of machine reads 'MANUFACTURED BY // THE BRITISH // ROTOTHERM // CO. LTD. // LONDON // WATTS 3000 // VOLTS 440 480 SERIES // VOLTS 220 240 PARRALLEL // MADE IN ENGLAND', another plate on another part of machine reads 'BELT SPEED 2.4H - 144 R.P.M. // R.P.M. CONTROL 1.3.H // R.P.M. CONTROL 2.3.G. // 125 //....// CF'
Brief History
The Monotype system is a system for printing by hot metal typesetting from a keyboard. (Another system is the Linotype system.) Hot metal typesetting is a method which injects molten type metal into a mould to form letters. The Monotype caster casts individual letters which are assembled into lines in a way similar to typesetting done by hand whereas under the Linotype system, lines of text are produced.
An American inventor, Tolbert Lanston had patented the first hot metal typesetting machine in 1896 and founded the Lanston Monotype Machine Company in 1897. The company set up a branch in London that same year under the name Lanston Monotype Corporation Ltd. The first Monotype machines wholly manufactured in Britain at the company’s factory in Salford in Surrey went on sale in 1924. In 1936 when the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange it was renamed Monotype Corporation Ltd. It was taken over by Agfa Compugraphic in 1999 and became known as Agfa Monotype.
The Monotype Super Caster is capable of casting type in sizes ranging from 6 point to 72 point and was developed by the Lanston Monotype Corporation in 1928. The company was known for commissioning new typefaces, among them such familiar ones as Times New Roman and Perpetua.
The system for electric heating of the metal was manufactured by British Rototherm, which is still in existence.
An American inventor, Tolbert Lanston had patented the first hot metal typesetting machine in 1896 and founded the Lanston Monotype Machine Company in 1897. The company set up a branch in London that same year under the name Lanston Monotype Corporation Ltd. The first Monotype machines wholly manufactured in Britain at the company’s factory in Salford in Surrey went on sale in 1924. In 1936 when the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange it was renamed Monotype Corporation Ltd. It was taken over by Agfa Compugraphic in 1999 and became known as Agfa Monotype.
The Monotype Super Caster is capable of casting type in sizes ranging from 6 point to 72 point and was developed by the Lanston Monotype Corporation in 1928. The company was known for commissioning new typefaces, among them such familiar ones as Times New Roman and Perpetua.
The system for electric heating of the metal was manufactured by British Rototherm, which is still in existence.
Marks
SUPER MONOTYPE CASTER // THE MONOTYPE CORP LTD. LONDON. // PATENTED // ... // SERIAL No 70234 REGISTERED TRADE MARK MONOTYPE Maker's Plate
'MANUFACTURED BY // THE BRITISH // ROTOTHERM // CO. LTD. // LONDON // WATTS 3000 // VOLTS 440 480 SERIES // VOLTS 220 240 PARRALLEL // MADE IN ENGLAND Maker's Plate
'BELT SPEED 2.4H - 144 R.P.M. // R.P.M. CONTROL 1.3.H // R.P.M. CONTROL 2.3.G. // 125 //....// C Maker's Plate
'MANUFACTURED BY // THE BRITISH // ROTOTHERM // CO. LTD. // LONDON // WATTS 3000 // VOLTS 440 480 SERIES // VOLTS 220 240 PARRALLEL // MADE IN ENGLAND Maker's Plate
'BELT SPEED 2.4H - 144 R.P.M. // R.P.M. CONTROL 1.3.H // R.P.M. CONTROL 2.3.G. // 125 //....// C Maker's Plate
Media/Materials
Other name
Typesetting machine
Credit Line
The Monotype Corporation Limited. Post 1928
Circa 1934. Monotype Machine [Super Caster], 2014.537. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Circa 1934. Monotype Machine [Super Caster], 2014.537. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
Public comments
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- MOTAT Curatorial Research posted 3 years ago.
Machine serial number 70234 originally shipped to a company or person named Morrison in Wellington, N.Z. on August 2, 1934. Then to a newspaper in Christchurch and finally to Leighton Printing in Auckland sometime in 1965. Monotype introduced the Super Caster in 1929, so this is a very early example.
- Dan posted 3 years ago.