We often get requests to cast this or that typeface. Sometimes the matrices are in our vault, sometimes not—sometimes we can take on a custom project, and sometimes we decline. The request most often received is for a certain set of combinable decorative elements produced in the 1940s by American Type Founders. I had no idea whether these matrices had survived the 1992 ATF liquidation auction, and if so, where they were—and up until recently, Skyline did not have the necessary hardware to produce type from ATF’s style of foundry mats. Then I became aware that the mats had in fact survived, and were safe in the collection of a longtime friend and fellow typefounder. This gentleman graciously agreed to make them available. Casting proved to be a major undertaking, and we’ve been working on it in deep secrecy for several months.
But the curtain can now be raised, and we proudly roll out Alpha-Blox in 36pt.
It was understood from the beginning that a product this extraordinary called for very special packaging, something like a treasure chest. We have two Hammond Glider saws in our shop and I had often toyed with the idea of using this precision instrument to replicate the finger-jointed wooden accessory boxes that originally came with our Thompson Type Casters. So I proceeded to sketch out some ideas and do a little experimenting. Many days and many buckets of discarded box parts later, I had what I considered an acceptable prototype. More refined examples followed, and the process was captured in full detail to enable quantity production. The finished product is a felt-lined birchwood box, 7½ x 13½ inches, with brass hinges and latch, and gold foil-stamped legend. To the left and right sides of the type are compartments where quotation quads (not included) may be kept for use in composition, with each side able to accommodate 26 em-body quads. A card is furnished, printed on Skyline’s 1890 Chandler & Price press, that shows all the various elements and their layout (yep, just like Whitman’s chocolates). The box and contents weigh in at 15¾ lbs.
A link to ATF’s original 1944 specimen may be found on the Type & Borders page. Alpha-Blox were made in three sizes, of which this is the largest. They consist of two different sets of designs: the Linear, with 19 elements, and the Reverse, with 23. These are all represented in the Skyline set in the exact proportions that were used by ATF, with a total count of 220 pieces.
Pricing for the Alpha-Blox Boxed Set is $295.00. Purchasers have the option of adding a second full set of type, packed in bulk, for a total price of $495.00. (Due to the amount of time and labor involved in fabrication, there is a limit of one boxed set per person until we’re sure we can keep up.)
Back in stock: Grimaldi in 24pt.