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ssarts's picture
51 pencils

Old Typsetting Tool?

Hey folks,
Can anyone tell me what the tool in the attached picture was used for? I found it in some of my Grandma's stuff after she passed away, and it was in with some old letter blocks and other secretary/typsetting looking tools... It looks like you wear it on your finger some how. I'm thinking that is was used to push the letters together after manually kerning the line?? Anyway, if anyone has any ideas or info for me, I'd appreciate it. That would be kinda cool if typesetting was in my blood!

TIA
-Shawn

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natobasso's picture
3954 pencils

Doesn't mention the tool you're looking for, but it lists some great standard ones that might help you by process of elimination:
http://my.execpc.com/~bosshard/printing/letrprss/basictools.html

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Powerpoint is not a design application

natobasso's picture
3954 pencils

Check out this great typesetting video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OVvbWdXRMQs

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Powerpoint is not a design application

ssarts's picture
51 pencils

I love the video natobasso.
Those old instructional films make me laugh. It's really neat to see how they used to typeset though. What a process!

There's an old linotype machine at the IA state fair that is pretty amazing to watch. The operator just types and the letters are distributed to lines. Once finished, the line of letters is distributed back into their slots in the holding area. Really amazing industrial technology. Especially after seeing that video of how it was done by hand!

http://www.archive.org/details/Typesett1960

thornysarus's picture
925 pencils

Handling type all day will wear on the fingers, so that's what this thing is for. I can't remember what it's called, but that's what it's for. To protect the fingers from repetitive wear-and-tear.

Terrell Thornhill

e-zign Design Group

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