Linotype matrices are made of brass. In the edge of each matrix is
either one or two letters or characters in intaglio. The thickness of
the individual matrices is dependent on the width of the character.
By an ingenious arrangement either one-letter or two-letter matrices
can be used in the same machine, and either character on a two-letter
matrix can be used at will.
The two-letter matrix bears two characters, one above the other, one
of which may be a Roman face and the other an italic, small capital,
or black face. If a line is to be composed partly of the Roman face,
which is in the upper position on the matrix, and partly of the other
face, which is in the lower position, this is accomplished by means of
a slide on the assembler operated by a small lever.
When the lower characters on the matrices are required, the slide
is shifted and the matrices are arrested at a higher level, so that
the lower characters align with the upper characters of the other
matrices in the assembler. When the slide is withdrawn the matrices are
assembled at the lower level. By means of this simple contrivance, a
line may be composed partly of one face, partly of the other face, or
entirely of either face.]
[Illustration: THIS SHOWS HOW THE HEADINGS ARE MADE IN CAPITALS OF
DIFFERENT TYPE.
Linotypes are guaranteed to be capable of setting above 5000 ems of
6 point per hour, and this output is widely obtained in commercial
printing offices with first class operators. When a compositor speaks
of the amount of type he sets per hour or day he speaks of “ems.” A
column of type matter is so many “ems” wide. The term “em” means the
square of the particular size of type that is being set. Thus if a
column is said to be 13 ems wide it means that an em quad or square,
could be set 13 times in the width of the column. Type is graded
according to size by points. Machine type for book work runs from 5
points to 12 points. A point is one seventy-second of an inch, that is,
there are 72 points to an inch. This guarantee, however, by no means
indicates the limit of speed at which the machine can be operated, as
evidenced by records of 10,000 to 11,000 ems per hour maintained for an
entire day. The rapidity of the Linotype is limited only by the ability
of the operator to manipulate the keys, and the extreme capacity of the
machine has never yet been attained.]
[Illustration: HOW THE LINOTYPE MAKES SOLID TYPE