Brass whatzits?????? More info and pics...................

[Mike from MI]

I have found these before and can't remember what they are? Different thicknesses, slightly different designs, brass? What say you?

Thanks

Further inspection shows painted letters, numbers and punctuation on one side. With the matching letter on the other only it is countersunk.
You can also see the slight differences of the ends. Could they be some sort of type setting hardware? I was thinking type writter but they are countersunk

 

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[mrs.oroblanco]

Re: Brass whatzits

Any numbers on it? They look like step depth gauges.

 

[ivan salis]

Re: Brass whatzits

I would agree gauges assorted sizes

 

[trikikiwi]

Re: Brass whatzits

I think they are the innards of a lock barrel. WAG!

Mike

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Brass whatzits

I think they are the innards of a lock barrel. WAG!

Mike

 

[AU24K]

Re: Brass whatzits

They are the brass letter forms for a Mergenthaler linotype machine. If you look closely on the "face" of the V shape, or on the left side as you have them in the picture, you will see a letter, number or other print character.
These were used to form the lead printing type for older letter presses.
The lead type would then be locked into a form and the press would print the job. Then the lead would be remelted into bars and recast on the linotype machine for the next job. I used to work with this type of equipment back in the 70's.

Scott

 

[Mike from MI]

Re: Brass whatzits

Any numbers on it? They look like step depth gauges.

nope not them.

 

[DCMatt]

Re: Brass whatzits

They are the brass letter forms for a Mergenthaler linotype machine. If you look closely on the "face" of the V shape, or on the left side as you have them in the picture, you will see a letter, number or other print character.
These were used to form the lead printing type for older letter presses.
The lead type would then be locked into a form and the press would print the job. Then the lead would be remelted into bars and recast on the linotype machine for the next job. I used to work with this type of equipment back in the 70's.

Scott

Wow! He's right!

Impressive!

DCMatt

 

[Mike from MI]

Re: Brass whatzits

They are the brass letter forms for a Mergenthaler linotype machine. If you look closely on the "face" of the V shape, or on the left side as you have them in the picture, you will see a letter, number or other print character.
These were used to form the lead printing type for older letter presses.
The lead type would then be locked into a form and the press would print the job. Then the lead would be remelted into bars and recast on the linotype machine for the next job. I used to work with this type of equipment back in the 70's.

Scott

BINGO!!! That is got to be it!!!!! Thanks Scott!!!!!

 

[AU24K]

Re: Brass whatzits

They are the brass letter forms for a Mergenthaler linotype machine. If you look closely on the "face" of the V shape, or on the left side as you have them in the picture, you will see a letter, number or other print character.
These were used to form the lead printing type for older letter presses.
The lead type would then be locked into a form and the press would print the job. Then the lead would be remelted into bars and recast on the linotype machine for the next job. I used to work with this type of equipment back in the 70's.

Scott

Wow! He's right!

Impressive!

DCMatt

Yep, I finally got one. Goes to prove that even a blind squirrel sometimes finds an acorn...

Scott

 

[PBK]

 

[doublet2a]

I have found a lot of those through the years, and never knew what they where.
No I do

Tim

 

[BuckleBoy]

That's really an incredible ID!

Do you by chance have any experience working with a 15-counter-thingy?

 

[trikikiwi]

Great ID Scott

Mike

 

[watercolor]

That's really an incredible ID!

Do you by chance have any experience working with a 15-counter-thingy?

Oh nooooo. . . .

 

[AU24K]

That's really an incredible ID!

Do you by chance have any experience working with a 15-counter-thingy?

Huh?

Scott

 

[DCMatt]

That's really an incredible ID!

Do you by chance have any experience working with a 15-counter-thingy?

Huh?

Scott

It's a reference to a long and mysterious "whatsit" thread - an item with 15 numbers on it that has been long debated in the forum. Most of us have abandoned the thread and simply made the item #8 on the "wonders of the world" list.

DCMatt

 

[BuckleBoy]

That's really an incredible ID!

Do you by chance have any experience working with a 15-counter-thingy?

Huh?

Scott

It's a reference to a long and mysterious "whatsit" thread - an item with 15 numbers on it that has been long debated in the forum. Most of us have abandoned the thread and simply made the item #8 on the "wonders of the world" list.

DCMatt

DCMatt is correct. I would've shared the link, but I have a phobia of that post getting bumped up to the top again.


:P

 

[AU24K]

Oh, I know what y'all talkin' 'bout. I agree it's a stumper; I know I've seen something like it somewhere else before...
Best wishes

Scott

PS. About the original post, I just remembered that we called these pieces "matrix."
I don't know if that's the proper name or not but that's what we called them.
Here's a picture of a linotype machine.