It is very time consuming but you get to learn so much about the fonts and have a better appreciation of what it takes to print with precision. There are often some spacing pieces inserted between the fonts, these fine things are called hair ( hair space!) and it goes down to 1/2 point hair, the pursuit of perfection is astounding.
The Process -
1. Here is the specimen of what a 'Forme' is - all the types within this is to be dissembled. The frame on its own is called 'chase'. With the type and all set up it is called a 'from'.
2. This is the detail of the actual type. After it was assembled together, or more accurately, 'typesetted', it was used for printing and now finished and ready to be dissembled. It has been cleaned with solvents and a hard brush to get rid of the ink used for printing, it is now ready to be dissembled and each individual type (each letter) to be put back to where it belongs. Note all the other metal pieces in varying shapes that hold the type and space together.
3a. These pieces of metal are called 'furniture' and the flat pieces are called 'leading'. they come in different sizes and are there to hold the type together for printing.
4. These are 'quoins', they are used on either side to help tighten all the bits that holds the type together. They are used to adjust the remaining slack not filled by the furniture, as it is not always perfectly fit. There is also the 'quoin key' also shown to tighten and un-tighten the quoins.
5. Now take all these pieces to the work space, identify what type they are and the sizes. Take note that sometimes the sizes and fonts maybe slightly different, such as small caps, italic etc so diss each carefully and separately. A paper form lets me know exactly which part of the timber tray I am to put each individual letter.
6. Being inexperienced, I needed the type distribution table right in front of me, together with a timber tray where I put the letters back. Note that I don't put them directly back into the actual drawer because if I did make a mistake, I would have to look through 100 of 's' before I can find the mistake, so it is safer to put them on a case, double check them before putting them back with the other lot.
7. This is basically the type that I have to put back. Every single letter, every single spacing between the words, letters ( for these two are the units measured in 'Ems' see notes on Day 3) and lines ( usually leading, range from 1 pt to 6pt in thickness and varying lengths)
8. Eventually they all went back in this drawer when everything is in the right place to mix back with hundreds of the other identical letter, which got put back in the drawer afterwards.For further tip on picking up and dissing the type please see Day 7 and 8.
