English Upper Case

à
etc

è
etc

ì
etc

ò
etc

ú
etc

÷ ||
=

fists

1
4

1
2

3
4

1
8

3
8

5
8

7
8

AE
ae

OE
oe

{

° ´
$

1
3

2
3

1
6

per

lbs

«»

† ‡

¶ §

----

ffi

ffl

hair

thin

The layout is that given in Southward Modern Printing (1898 and still in 8th ed 1954) as the improved modern lay. It is also given by Aspinall Handicraft Printing (1936), and Tarr Printing Today (1945), and is currently on display at the Gulgong Pioneer Museum, New South Wales. Tarr states that it is as recommended by Southward, and derived from Johnson (1824) and Savage (1841). It is very similar to Oldfield of 1892, apart from 1/6 instead of a crown, and putting thirds after eighths. However it differs from the Improved Southward of 1884 and the Johnson of 1824. A slightly different modern version of 1959 is shown by Wallis, spreading out the accented letters, and omitting fractions, braces, rules, and some signs.

Note that the boxes with A, etc are small caps. The box for à also contains á, â, ä. The box «» is for a top, middle and bottom 3 piece brace. The ---- are sizes of em dash. The Æ etc. boxes also contain small cap Æ etc.,

The recent improvements noted by Southward are bringing the caps and small caps to the bottom rows, thus easier to set without having to stretch over the case, less prone to have sorts (i.e. caps) dropped into them, and easier to place copy over the (less used) small caps without having to disturb it so often. It is also easier to set from a partially opened case, thus reducing the risk of dropping the case.

The companion lower case is Oldfield. The empty configuration is that of Moxon, and Smith (1755), Luckombe (1771), Stower (1808), Miller & Richard (1873), Southward (1882), Mackellar (1885), Barnhart Bros & Spindler's News (1890s), Stephenson Blake & Co (1922), Caslon (1925) etc.

Other empty cases ie with the boxes left blank		Other type layouts ie with characters assigned to boxes
Full Index of layouts	Glossary of terms used	Sources of the layouts	Introduction
Quantities in a fount of type		Quantities in a case of type
Notes about Job and Double Cases	Notes about Upper cases	Notes about Lower cases	Alembic home page

This page was written in 1997 by David Bolton and last updated 24 January 2016.