Die (pressure)
In connection with manual typesetting , machine typesetting and type foundries, a die is a form made of metal for producing letters or lines of lead .
Type foundry
The matrices were prepared by beating in by the font Schneider -built steel punches ( male , generated), the reproductions of writing of the later letter in copper. In the case of larger font sizes , the matrices were also produced by electroplating from the 19th century . They were in a manual casting instrument used and the type founder then with liquid type metal poured, taken after cooling and further processed (peeled, brought to standard height; see also: font foundry ). The resulting individual letters were used in hand typesetting. From 1853, manual work was supplemented and replaced by casting machines.
Machine set
With increasing automation, the activities of type casting and typesetting were merged. The matrices (now mainly made of brass ) were brought together mechanically at the push of a button, fixed to a mold and then filled with letter metal. Products were either single letters (e.g. Monotype typesetting machine ) or lead type lines cast together on a body ( Linotype system , Ludlow line casting machine, etc.).
Single letter with / without sprue piece
Matrix of a Linotype typesetting machine (matrices with two letters were common)
Linotype matrix line (word spacing was usually formed by special word spacing wedges)
