The 'Monotype' Super Caster

Technical Literature

image link-topic-sf0.jpg

1. Introduction

Technical literature on operating and maintaining the 'Monotype' Super Caster.

Thanks are due to the following people for preserving this information and making it available.

See also the list of Monotype information, including publications lists from 1960 and 1973, maintained by David Bolton of the Alembic Press: http://www.monotype-casting.info/

2. Apology

This will be a frustrating page for the general reader, because for the most part I will simply have to cite bibliography here. I wish it were not so.

Unfortunately, since the US implementation of the Uruguay round of GATT in 1996, all English publications which were in copyright in England on 1996-01-01 were placed in copyright in the US, (regardless of their former status in the US) as if they had been published in the US with all formalities complied with. Given the date of the Super Caster, this means that all English Monotype documents for it are in copyright at present and cannot be reprinted. This is greatly to be regretted, since it means that this fine machine will remain almost unknown in the United States, to the benefit of no one.

A very few of the documents here escape this limitation either because they are American publications which happen to have passed into the public domain or because they are original texts reprinted here by permission.

If you actually have a Super Caster and are attempting to find technical documentation for it, please contact me and I might be able to assist.

3. Manuals

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Manual (Hardcover, 1953)

The 'Monotype' Super Caster Manual (London: The National Committee of Monotype Users' Associations In Association with The Monotype Corporation Limited, 1953)

This is a hardcover edition of the manual, with dust jacket, printing by Simson Shand Ltd., The Shenval Press.

Thanks to David C. Churchman and Achilles Tzallas.

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Manual (Binder, 1972)

'Monotype' Super Caster Manual (London: The National Committee of Monotype Users' Associations In Collaboration with The Monotype Corporation Limited, 1972)

This is a looseleaf edition bound in a "Mult-O" brand multiring binder. 183x245mm page size.

Thanks to David C. Churchman and Bill Welliver.

4. Parts Books

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Spare Parts List (s/n 70492+)

Spare Parts List for 'Monotype' Super Casters (numbered 70492 and over) . (London and Salfords: The Monotype Corporation Limited, n.d.)

This was published looseleaf in a "Mult-O" brand multiring binder. 228x278mm page size.

Each copy was numbered. The following are attested:

5. Mold Changing and Change-Over Procedures

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Super Caster Change-over Manual (1955)

Super Caster: "Changing from Display Type Casting, Quotations or Wooden Cored Quotations to Leads and Rules, Clumps or Continuous Borders and Dashes," "Changing from Leads and Rules, Clumps or Continuous Borders and Dashes to Display Type Csting, Quotations or Wooden Cored Quotations," "Changing from Display Type Casting, Quotations or Wooden Cored Quotations to Furniture," "Changing from Furniture to Display Type Casting, Quotations or Wooden Cored Quotations," "Changning from Display Type Casting, Quotations or Wooden Cored Quotations to Sorts Casting for Small or Large Type Composition," "Changing from Sorts Casting for Small or Large Type Composition to Display Type Csting, Quotatations or Wooden Cored Quotations," "Changing from Leads and Rules, Clumps or Continuous Borders and Dashes to Furniture," "Changing from Furniture to Leads and Rules, Clumps or Continuous Borders and Dashes," "Changing from Leds and Rules, Clumps or Continuous Borders and Dashes to Sorts Casting for Small or Large Type Composition," "Changing from Sorts Casting for Small or Large Type Composition to Leads and Rules, Clumps, or Continuous Borders and Dashes," "Changing from Furniture to Sorts Casting for Small or Large Type Composition," and "Changing from Sorts Casting for Small or Large Type Composition to Furniture." Whew. (Salfords, Surrey, England: The Monotype Corporation Limited, 1955.) Monoytpe publication code "S9-1500 11/55"

Thanks to Richard L. Hopkins.

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Super Caster Illustrated Change-over Manual

'Monotype' Super Caster Product Change-Over Procedure . (Salfords: The Monotype Corporation Limited, n.d.)

Thanks to David C. Churchman, Richard L. Hopkins, and Bill Welliver.

[click image to read]

image link-to-halbert-supercaster-mold-change-sequence-14-36pt-manuscript-1990-09-sf0.jpg

Halbert 14-36pt Mold Change (manuscript)

Halbert, Bob. "14 pt - 36 pt. Display, Super Caster Mold Change Sequence." Sept. 1990. Four pages of manuscript notes (also with an additional diagram on p. 4 of a photocopy of it) prepared by Bob Halbert for David C. Churchman / Sterling Type Foundry.

I have assembled these into a five page PDF. 25 Megabytes.

Thanks to David C. Churchman.

[click image to read]

image link-to-halbert-churchman-supercaster-mold-change-sequence-14-36pt-typescript-c2-with-pencil-notes-sf0.jpg

Halbert/Churchman 14-36pt Mold Change (typescript)

Churchman, David and Bob Halbert. "Super Caster Mold Change Sequence, 14 pt - 36 pt Display, As Told to Dave Churchman by Bob Halbert." This is a typescript, illustrated with diagrams, with some further annotations in pencil, prepared by David C. Churchman from the manuscript notes cited above.

I have assembled these into a two page PDF. 18 Megabytes.

Thanks to David C. Churchman.

6. Hang Charts

(For dimensions, width precedes height.)

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Moulds (Rev. 2-10-53)

One side: "Super Caster Product Information Table, Type Moulds."

Other side: "Super Caster Product Information Table: 1 to 3 Point Lead and Rule Mould (77,000 Series), 4 to 18 Point Lead and Rule Mould (76,300 Series), FurnitureMould (78,000 Series)."

250x212mm, both "Rev. 2-10-53".

Thanks to David C. Churchman.

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Mould & Matrix Holders / Fount Schemes

One side: "Super Caster Particulars of Mould and Matrix Holders To Use when Casting Type."

Other side: "Standard Fount Schemes, Based on lower-case founts of 1,000, 500, and 250 characters."

265x189mm, no date, no printing code.

Thanks to David C. Churchman.

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Change Speed Table / Micrometer Head Settings

One side: "Super Caster Change Speed Table: Based upon direct drive speed of 144 Revolutions per minute."

Other side: "Super Caster Micrometer Head Settings: For display matrices."

277x222mm, no date, no printing code.

Thanks to David C. Churchman.

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Cutting Strip Material / Setting Counter Drum (12pt)

One side: "Super Caster Table for Cutting Strip Material to 12-Point Ems and Half-Ems."

Other side: "Super Caster Table for Setting Counter Drum and Micrometer Head for 12-Point Ems and Half-Ems, For Furniture Mould Equipped for Casting Predetermined Lengths."

292x228mm, no date, no printing code.

Thanks to David C. Churchman.

image link-blank-sf0.jpg

Cutting Strip Material / Setting Counter Drum (Ciceros)

One side: "Super Caster Table for Cutting Strip Material to Ciceros and Half-Ciceros."

Other side: "Super Caster Table for Setting Counter Drum and Micrometer Head for Ciceros and Half-Ciceros, For Furniture Mould Equipped for Casting Predetermined Lengths."

295x235mm, no date, no printing code.

Thanks to David C. Churchman.

About the images


Select Resolution: 0 [other resolutions temporarily disabled due to lack of disk space]