Friday, November 30, 2018 -- English Monotype Alignment Matrices
I’ve started to look at a new Super Caster holder design for Giant Caster matrices. Here is the next concern: with respect to head bearing and a base line on the matrix, Giant Caster mats appear to align to a constant base line, and English matrices appear to align close to the centre line of the matrix, see the above picture of English alignment mats arranged in ascending point size, with the head bearing to the right, foot to the left.
I commented about this situation in my Super Caster book:
“The centre line of an English Monotype matrix holder for any size appears to be designed to locate down the middle of the type face. Any variance in thermal expansion during operation was effectively cut in half, i.e. half the expansion was above the centre line of the face on the type body and half below, call it centre alignment.”
This situation could use more mathematical analysis, I now think the centre line might be down the middle of the type body, not the middle of the face, based on visually lining up insets. The only reason I can guess for dong it this way is slightly greater accuracy, which was always the top theme at English Monotype.
It will be interesting to see how this affects the final matrix holder design; theoretically, with the constant base line close to the bottom (nick side) of the mat, the large Giant Caster mats will stay away from the Type Carrier.
Friday, November 30, 2018 -- English Monotype Alignment Matrices
I’ve started to look at a new Super Caster holder design for Giant Caster matrices. Here is the next concern: with respect to head bearing and a base line on the matrix, Giant Caster mats appear to align to a constant base line, and English matrices appear to align close to the centre line of the matrix, see the above picture of English alignment mats arranged in ascending point size, with the head bearing to the right, foot to the left.
I commented about this situation in my Super Caster book:
“The centre line of an English Monotype matrix holder for any size appears to be designed to locate down the middle of the type face. Any variance in thermal expansion during operation was effectively cut in half, i.e. half the expansion was above the centre line of the face on the type body and half below, call it centre alignment.”
This situation could use more mathematical analysis, I now think the centre line might be down the middle of the type body, not the middle of the face, based on visually lining up insets. The only reason I can guess for dong it this way is slightly greater accuracy, which was always the top theme at English Monotype.
It will be interesting to see how this affects the final matrix holder design; theoretically, with the constant base line close to the bottom (nick side) of the mat, the large Giant Caster mats will stay away from the Type Carrier.