Summary
Machine used in the Railway Printing Branch before that department was amalgamated with the Government Printing Office.
Operation
The paper ribbon prepared by the keyboard operator is fixed in the caster tower. It unwinds step by step and passes over air vents. Compressed air passing through these air vents raises stop pins and these pins control the positioning of the matrix-case as the perforations for a particular letter pass over the air vents. The matrix-case is halted at the required position over the mould for a fraction of a second needed to cast and eject the corresponding type and then it moves to the next position.
Significance
This is a relatively modern caster used with keyboards. It forms a link in the historical chain of typesetting machinery and the necessary complement to the keyboards in the Museum collection.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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User
Victorian Government Printing Office, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1930-1989
This particular machine was used in the Railway Printing Branch before that department was amalgamated with the Government Printing Office. -
Manufacturer
Monotype Corporation Ltd, London, Middlesex, England, Great Britain, 1930-1940
Dates are estimated. -
Inscriptions
Metal label: Monotype Corporation/Composition Caster/Made in England/Patented/Serial No: 30261/Registered Trade Mark/Monotype Label on side: Monotype The machine has a Funditor Metal Pot, Serial No. 69454, 3000 watts Machine has an oily tag on the side - 'Lot 23' - which relates to its VGPO heritage.
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
1100 mm (Length), 1300 mm (Width), 1750 mm (Height)
The machine
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References
Sources used by Peter Marsh (2 July 2007) for this record: VPRS 9957/P1, Unit 29, File 82/27/1 VPRS 9957/P1, Unit 56, File 87/103/1 VPRS 9957/P2, Unit 17. File 81/214 (VPRS = Victorian Public Record Series)
