Metal Type Library

Welcome to the Metal Type Library. Here you'll find documents, instruction manuals, etc. available to download. Most of the documents are PDF files, and will require Adobe Reader installed on your computer to view them.

Press Instructions

Thompson British Installation & Operator's Manual

A nice, clean 17-page document with a couple of illustrations in PDF format (464KB). Click the heading to start the download.

Thompson Instruction Manual

The Thompson Automatic (British version) Instruction and Operator's Manual, including maintenance, in PDF format. 36 Pages (644KB).

Thompson British Automatic Platen List of Parts

53 pages, with lots of illustrations in PDF format (8.5MB).

Miehle V50 Vertical Instruction Book

37 pages, lots of illustrations. Sections on installation, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting in PDF format (11.3MB).

Miehle Vertical Press Catalogue of Parts

Every part of the press, both American and English versions, illustrated and catalogued. 37 pages in PDF format (8.39MB).

Printomatic Stop Cylinder Press

A 55-page document, with many illustrations, wiring diagrams, etc. Not as clean as the Thompson manual, made from scans of the original document. PDF format (1.9MB).

Typesetting

Model M Ludlow Instructions and Parts List

55 pages, illustations, maintenance, adjustments, wiring diagrams and parts list PDF format (11.61MB).

Useful Matrix Information

Published by the Linotype Corporation in 1937. Useful information, including notches, tooth combinations, face identification numbers, suggested font schemes, accented characters, keyboard diagrams, All-Purpose Linotype matrix information, typographic refinements, etc. PDF format (3.41MB).

The New Linotype

An 8-page document, probably from the early 1900s, extolling the virtues of the new Linotype over the previous "Blower" machines. PDF format (273KB).

Ludlow Supersurfacer

Instructions and parts list, 17 pages, with some illustrations. PDF format (544KB).

Monotype Model D Keyboard Instructions

French Language. Operator's instruction manual. 110 pages. PDF format (9.18MB).

Interype Quadder

12-page advertising brochure for the Intertype Quadder, with some nice illustrations. PDF format (2.74MB).

The Intertype Autospacer

Functions, care, operation and adjustment. 24 pages, illustrated. PDF format (555KB).

Typofix Type Caster

A four page instruction manual in PDF format (264KB).

Shaffstall Transistor Mat Detector

72-page instruction manual and fault-finding guide, with illustrations for this device that was used on high-speed tape-operated linecasters. PDF format (21.9MB). The Patent Application for this device is also available to download. PDF format, 10 pages (2.6MB).