Showing you some '50s/60s signs and boards meant as an on-site reference for type foundries using Monotype hot metal typesetting system.

Talking about my rpi2caster Raspberry Pi based computer control sytstem for the Monotype composition caster.

rpi2caster connects with the RPi over I2C and uses two MCP23017 expanders with four ULN2803 drivers which control 24VDC solenoid valves. Mechanically it's a RPi HAT expansion module, but I never got round to figuring out the device tree overlays and flashing the configuration chip (even though I included it in the design and all units have it).

Not going through the theoretical parts of Monotype design and engineering here. There's a lot to explain about units, set widths, wedges, matrix positions etc. I don't know it all either.

Oh, I'm moving around so much...

0:00 Intro 0:22 Accidental find 2:40 The rpi2caster project, and the materials I still have 6:00 The Heart of rpi2caster 7:13 How the Caster Is Controlled 8:42 Monotype Matrix Cases 9:11 Matrix Case Arrangement Table 9:57 Oh No, It's Everywhere! 10:13 A Few Words on the History of Times New Roman 10:40 Gill Sans 11:37 Design Inspirations 12:04 Varigear - Continuously Variable Speed Drive 13:13 "A Monotype mould is a joy for ever" 14:30 Picas, Ciceros, Whatnot 15:00 Recalculation Discombobulation 16:00 Type Set Sizes 17:14 A Young Polish Girl in the Monotype World