Category Archives: typecasting

Bill’s Linotype

June 2, 2009 – 12:10 pm

I couldn’t resist posting this beautifully shot and rather enchanting movie, by J. Shimon & J. Lindemann, that explores a craftsmans’ relationship with the machinery of his trade. Although this film features Bill Malley (1938-2004) and his Linotype machine, I have met a great many craftsman who, like Bill, developed a great affinity for their […]

By Justin Knopp | Also posted in craft, hot metal, letterpress, Typesetting | Tagged , , | Comments (3)

Old English type body sizes

May 11, 2009 – 8:43 pm

Prior to 1737, little standardisation existed in the sizes of printing types and typefounders cast types to their own sizes and dimensions. In this year, the Parisian typefounder Pierre Simon Fournier introduced a new system that he derived from dividing two inches of the pre-metric French foot into one hundred and forty-four equal parts. Fournier […]

By Justin Knopp | Also posted in letterpress, Typesetting, typography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (4)

Stern metal type from the Rimmer Type Foundry

March 18, 2009 – 8:07 pm

Following the release last July of the typeface Stern, designed by Jim Rimmer, a great deal of willpower had to be summonsed to prevent me from placing an order for the metal version of the typeface. Unfairly placed just above an image of a shimmering newly cast fount of Stern, the ‘Order’ button on The […]

By Justin Knopp | Also posted in hot metal, letterpress | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

Hot-Metal at the Crescent Card Company

October 28, 2008 – 9:28 pm

Just over a week ago I attended a Hot-Metal open day at the Crescent Card Company (Tiptree), where Len Friend and Dave Boden provided a hands-on Ludlow typecasting workshop. I came away having learnt a great deal about the process and proudly clutching the prize of a freshly cast ‘slug’ of type. I also managed […]

By Justin Knopp | Also posted in hot metal, letterpress, ludlow | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (2)