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Here are but a few of the questions we are often called upon
to answer. Some general comments regarding our payment
and shipping policies are posted on this page
as well. If you do not see your question here or the answer is not quite
fully explained, please contact us by phone,
fax, or mail, postal or electronic. We will update these questions &
answers as needed.
What is Monotype composition?
What is the difference between Monotype composition and foundry type?
What is the difference between display and
composition sizes?
What is the difference between a typeface
and a font?
Why is metal type a superior printing material?
How do I order Monotype composition from your foundry?
On the specimen page, what do the numbers after the
names of the typefaces mean?
Do you cast fonts of type?
Can I order more sorts?
Can you cast type to align to type I already have?
How hard is your type?
When I receive some composition type I notice some
characters are colored red. What does that mean?
Do you sell ornaments?
How are orders shipped? Can your type be delivered
to me even if I live on another continent?
To whom shall I make out my check out? And is an advance payment required?
How do you pronounce "Skaneateles"?
How does one go about driving to the Letterfoundry?
Do you ever offer workshops or any kind of instruction?
Do you welcome visitors or tour groups?
What is Monotype composition?
It is the mechanical casting of single types, as opposed to slug-cast
lines of type. It is a mechanical type casting system capable of
producing text composition from 8 point to 18 point. The system
also permits the casting of "foundry" type from 18 point to 72
point for hand type setting. Unlike slug-cast composition from
Linotype and Ludlow machines, the individual characters and spaces
of Monotype composition can be changed with tweezers, affording
corrections without recasting the entire line. Unlike any other
mechanical typesetting system, the Monotype system produces newly
cast types of most of the world's languages, including mathematics,
the language of the universe.
"Linotype was meant for speed, but Monotype was meant for perfection."
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What is the difference between Monotype composition and foundry
type?
Foundry type was cast years ago on special Barth typecasting machines
using a type metal of extra-hard alloy.
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What is the difference between display and composition sizes?
Display-size types are hand-set to 72 point. Composition-size type is mechanically set on the Monotype Composition Caster from 8 to 18 point.
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What is the difference between a typeface and a font?
A typeface is the name of a particular type design. A font is a quantity of one typeface, in one size, and one style.
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Why is metal type a superior printing material?
It is, absolutely. What else do you expect us to say?
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How do I order Monotype composition from your foundry?
Call 315-685-5181. No email orders, please. We encourage discussion of any project before any estimates or payments are offered. It would be useful to have the following details in mind: typeface, point size, leading and line length.
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On the specimen page, what do the numbers after the names of
the typefaces mean?
They are series numbers that refer to the original English Monotype
hot metal design. The numbers below list the type sizes available as either machine-set composition cast or hand-set type.
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Do you cast fonts of type?
Yes, but we do not stock packages of fonts wrapped and standing on
our shelves. Fonts are custom cast to any font scheme and to any
alignment at $18 per lb. with a 25 lb. minimum, payable with order,
plus 10% for packing and shipping via UPS within USA.
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Can I order more sorts?
Yes. Just ask.
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Can you cast type to align to type I already have?
Yes. Send us an 'm' or 'z' for alignment.
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How hard is your type?
The truth is . . . damn hard, but that's not for us to judge. Some people like to smash the type when they print. Sure our type is hard, but it's not steel.
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When I receive some composition type I notice some characters are colored
red. What does the color mean?
Most fonts in composition sizes 8-14 point include small capitals,
ligatures & cut-ins. Cut-ins are lowercase vowels a,e,o, under
cast in body set width
for tighter fit following capital consonants T, V, W & Y. We color cut-ins
red when extra sorts are supplied with an order or fonts are custom
cast to specification.
Also, the nicks of Gill Sans cap 'I's are sometimes marked a color to distinguish them from lowercase 'l's.
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Do you sell ornaments?
Yes, pending the availability of time for custom casting. We don't stock fonts or packages of ornaments. We generally offer ornaments to complement book/text composition jobs.
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How are orders shipped? Can your type be delivered to me even if I live
on another continent?
Our type is fully insured & packed in specially designed shipping
cartons. We ship our type to North American
destinations via UPS or abroad via surface post. When shipped by UPS, type often arrives within two to five days.
Our type comes to you specially wrapped & packed for
safe shipment anywhere in the world. Shipments to Newfoundland take as long as six weeks, and shipments to Australia and Japan take as long as two to three months. Metal type is heavy, so we seldom use air freight.
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To whom shall I make out my check out? And is an advance payment required?
Checks should be made payable to 'Michael Bixler.' Type is only cast on order or by commission, and an adequate deposit is mandatory.
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How do you pronounce "Skaneateles"?
"Skaneateles" is pronounced "skan-ee-AT-lis.
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How does one go about driving to the Letterfoundry?
We live & work in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Our shop is located on the
outskirts of scenic Skaneateles, which is 25 minutes from Syracuse and Interstate 90, the New York State Thruway. If you are looking for decent directions, try this link to Google Maps.
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Do you ever offer workshops or any kind of instruction?
Yes, I have on occasion offered three- to four- week apprenticeships in casting type on the Monotype, but few qualify. If you are a student of the book arts and are seriously interested in hot metal typecasting, write us a letter or give us a call. We have very limited time, so we cannot promise to help everyone who contacts us.
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Do you welcome visitors or tour groups?
Yes, visitors are welcome, with prior arrangement, if they are interested in very specific aspects of letterpress printing and the book arts. This is a working shop; we can't handle visitors with time to kill.
Visitors should call
ahead to schedule an appointment. Please make every effort to telephone,
rather than email, as we do not use email on a regular basis.
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