Single cards, one-sided, held by tabs onto a backing sheet in a removable tray. Each card 10cm x 7cm (approx). One or more cards for each symbol, in serial number order, 1 to 31265, and for each embellished letter, in serial order within alphabetic order, 28020 in total, with Latin a separate list from Greek, and Cyrillic. Each card records the serial number of the sign/letter, a pasted-in or drawn example of the sign/letter, the point size of the example, the unit width, any additional comment such as superior, inferior, etc, and a fuller comment (up to 12 words or more) such as weight (medium, bold, etc) and whether it matches other serials, or aligns with top, descender, etc of the face. The card can then record up to 21 entries showing typeface series and point size for each face that has been punched for that sign, with space for three point sizes per face. Some cards are missing, some have become rather crumpled. | |
Opposite on the right is a view of the front of the Kardex cabinets. | |
Below on the left is an open drawer showing a set of cards for the letter D from 73D to 88D (overall there are 1118 different serial numbered versions of D). On the right is a set of cards for signs numbered S22000 to S22014. Unlike the 73D cards, the S22000 etc signs are for Monophoto and not hot metal. | |
22 volumes, each page heavy card 25cm x 35cm (approx), and double-sided, showing symbols in approximate shape order, and letters in alphabetic order grouped by each sort of accent (acute, grave, etc) and by roman, italic, etc., for each letter. The information is on small strips tabbed into the ledger page, each strip showing serial number, point size of example, unit width, a pasted or sellotaped-in example of the symbol, and comments. Some strips have become detached. | |
Matrix Charts
These exist as several sets of paper sheets 20cm x 30cm (approx) with pre-printed alphabet etc in blue (ozalid) ink. One set is for preliminary alignment work, another is the working set for punching. Similarly, there are a further two sets for display sizes, some in red ink. All the sheets are stored loose in boxes, in order of typeface series number and then point size.
Four green ring binders that for each folio record
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Note that in many cases, some of the above details are left blank. The sequence of entry is in folio number order, and more or less in numerical keybar order, though there are a few that jump the sequence. It is roughly chronological, but actual dates could be obtained from the folio sheets, as long as the sheet has been signed at its foot. The folio layout index is very useful as it identifies the purpose of a particular set of keybars, which is not shown on the actual keybar frames themselves, as they are only identified by their serial numbers. A reduced version of the index, in keybar order, for a limited number of keybars, is at Monotype Keybars. | |
Layout sheets
For a given typeface, the layout sheet (or sometimes just the Folio sheet, where particular to an individual customer) is very useful as it shows the position of each matrix in the matrix case, the unit value of each row, and the serial number of the matrix case arrangement. It may also show some outside sorts, i.e. characters that can be fitted into the case in exchange for an existing character, and will sometimes record the different set widths of each available point size. The sheet also gives the requisite stopbar case, and wedge, and the layout of the keys on the two keyboards, plus their serial numbers. Early layouts (up to number 183) were published in the 'Monotype' Layout Book for the Keyboard and Matrix-case, but that only included 42 actual layouts. Later layouts were only printed when there was a perceived demand, for example, Monotype Technical Bulletin 46, in 1961, describes the introduction of new standardized layouts, and Monotype Technical Bulletin 72, in 1967, lists a new set of six printed layouts, with number 3016 then the highest. Some layouts are files along with the folio sheets, and some are on-line at Diecase/Keybar layouts.
Separate (approx 12,300) sheets stored in a suite of filing drawers, recording
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Wedge diagrams
Machine shop drawings of wedge dimensions are held for wedges up to 2719, plus high-speed and experimental ones. The drawings show the wedge serial number, and the unit values of each position on the wedge, as well as the machining widths, for all the set sizes involved. What these sheets do not show is the type series that uses the wedge, and for example wedge 5 is used by at least 177 different typefaces. Some series numbers can be obtained from Monotype Stopbars which has extracted the information from various sources, for a range of common wedges and stopbars.
These nine ledgers record for each type series up to 989, then series L8 to L433, then figures serial F21 to F1943, then series G and M6. Each page shows:
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Unit Arrangements
Held in two formats, one the Unit Arrangments of ‘Monotype’ Composition Matrices booklet (as on the Metal Type website), the other single type series charts for a given typeface.
The booklet shows unit values for each typeface for A-Z Æ Œ ff fi fl ffi ffl &0-9£ for capitals, small capitals, lower-case, italic capitals, italic lower case. It does not show unit values for punctuation, $ ß ct st etc. The arrangements in the booklet are in unit arrangement number order, currently 1-510, and also show the face series, 1-766 but with gaps. There is an earlier, undated, version of the booklet which only goes up to arrangement number 376.
The type series charts are for individual typefaces, showing the series number and unit arrangement number, and then by row for each unit, showing all the characters with that unit value, and then the physical width, i.e. the micrometer setting, for each point size. Punctuation, figures, $ ß are included on the sheets.
The unit arrangement serial number for a given typeface can be obtained from the Specimen Book of ‘Monotype’ Printing Types, which is in typeface order. A subset of that in unit arrangement order is at Unit Arrangements.
In two volumes, in typeface series order up to series 989, then series L8 to L433, then figures serial F21 to F1943, then series G and M6, each page showing
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