In small presses composing is done by hand; but in most large presses this work is done on semi-automatic modern composing machines, called linotype, inter-type, monotype, photo- setting composing machine, etc. For speedy and accurate composi­tion, most large presses have installed these machines.

The bulk of printed books and newspapers is composed by machines these days.

Machine Type Setters are the second largest composing room workers. They are usually classified according to the type of machines operated, and are designed as Lino-type Operator, Mono-type Keyboard Operator, Mono-type Caster, etc.

The Lino-type Operator:

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He sits in front of the machine and clips the ‘copy’ (manuscript for a typed copy of the script) to the machine’s copy board and adjust the machine according to the size of type and length of lines to be formed. A Lino-type machine has a keyboard of about 90 keys of letters and other characters, somewhat similar to that of a typewriter.

He types the material, pressing keys of the keyboard to assemble matrices (metal pieces in which the characters or dies are stamped) to form words and lines. He follows manuscript rigidly, but breaks up words, if necessary, at the end of each line.

After a line has been composed, he presses a lever, and the machine automatically casts the whole line of types in a solid strip of metal, called a ‘slug’. The slugs are then deposited in a galley and later assembled into type forms, from which either copy are finally printed or plates are made for final printing.

Other duties performed by a Lino-type Operator include casting of new lines to remove errors pointed out by the Proof- Reader; putting new ingots (blocks) of the type metal into the melting pot to keep it full; and doing minor adjustments. Occasionally, he may be required to draw proofs of galley types and send them to the proofreader for corrections. In a small press, he may maintain, repair and operate the Lino-type machine; in the large press, mechanics are employed to adjust and maintain the machines.

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Lino-type Operator goes by many other job-titles, viz., Lino- Operator. Lino-typesetting Machine Operator; Composing Machine Operator; Lino-type etc.

A Photo-setting Operator:

The Inter type Photo setter Operator sets types with the aid of photography on a type-setting machine called the Lino film, the Intertype Photo Setter, the Rotofoto. He operates a machine similar in character to a linotype machine, which is popularly known as a slug casting machine or a line composing machine. These machines are operated, more or less, in similar ways and their performances are also similar, though there are minor differences in their operation.

The Mono-type Keyboard Operator: Also called Mono Operator, Composing Machine Operator, Mono-type Operator, etc. he operates a keyboard of a composing machine which makes perforation on a spool of paper used for casting types for printing.

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A mono-type machine consists of two separate units-the keyboard and the caster (casting machine). Unlike the lino-type, which does the entire type-setting job, the mono-type keyboard produces only a perforated paper roll which is later fed into a mono­type casting machine which casts and assembles types automatically. In contrast to the lino-type, the mono-type makes possible the automatic casting of individual letters and other characters.

This permits corrections to be made by hand without the need of re-setting the entire line (as in the case of lino-type). Mono-type, thus, retains some of the flexibility of hand composing, while offering the advan­tage of speed of machine operation.

The manuscript to be composed is kept in a holder; and a line- length indicator scale is set on the machine corresponding to the length of the line to be printed. The spool of paper is mounted at the top of keyboard of the machine. The operator is required to make many minor adjustments in the machine before actually starting the operating work. He starts and operates the keyboard which perforates the paper. The perforated paper then automatically winds on another spool.

While operating the keyboard, which is similar to that of a type-writer, except that it has four times as many keys, the operator follows the manuscript rigidly. Of course, he breaks words, when necessary, at the end of each line. When all the matter has been transferred on the roll of paper, he tears off the perforated strip for use by Mono Caster Operator.