The Barth Type Caster

A Census of Barth Type Casters

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Contents:

1. Census

There will never be a complete census of all Barth Type Casters, as most of them were destroyed without (surviving) record. In very approximate terms, it is likely that 200 or more were constructed. No more than about 30 exist today (25 have been verified, with four more possible survivors). This Notebook is an attempt to record what we know.

Caveat 1: The copy of the ATF 1993 auction list that I am working from is missing lots 483-543 (that is, probably one page). My total Barth count of 87 for ATF93 is less than that reported by GJW in {Walters 1994}. (However, it is possible that the count of 96 includes the 8 non-Barth automatic space and quad casters and the one parts-machine Barth sold at ATF93.) I believe that the data here account for all of the known-by-serial-number surviving machines.

Caveat 2: The information on the GJW and DMM machines comes from physical inspection of the machines and may be treated with a high degree of confidence. The information on the DG/ex-DG machines is at present reconstructed from documentary evidence and is less certain.

My thanks to Gregory Jackson Walters and Patrick Goossens for their extensive help in compiling this information. Without them, this wouldn't be possible.

For other censuses of typecasting machinery, see:

1.1. Tabular Overview of Surviving Machines

"Surviving" here means either (a) that the machine was purchased by someone other than a junk dealer at ATF93 and is not known to have been destroyed since then, or (b) is known to have survived via some other path. The machines listed in the table below with a "Who" field of "GJW", "PG", and "DMM" are verified as existing. Zero or more of the machines listed with a "Who" field of "?/PG" may no longer exist (as explained in each case in the notes to the table). It is also possible that other Barth casters have survived which are not listed here.

This is a quick tabular view of machine data, sorted by current caretaker (these are machines which can outlive a century; it is we who pass through their lives even as they pass through ours). The Mold Size and Mold Type are as-equipped and are subject to change (within limits of the Machine Size and surviving mold equipment).

Note: The PG and "?/PG" machines at this time have been identified by Mold Tag but not by Machine Number. More TR/DG machines survived the 1993 ATF auction than were present at the DG at the time these machines passed to PG; the location/disposition of these other TR/DG machines is unknown to me. A notation in the table below such as "?/PG 3/2" indicates that 3 machines were purchased by TR at ATF93 and that PG now has 2 of them, but at present it isn't certain which ones. Further, the ATF93 count is not an accurate indication of the DG inventory, as TR/DG acquired one or more machines before the auction. It is also possible that mold configurations for DG machines were changed after ATF93. At present, please treat the following information with caution, since it is not yet complete and may contain errors . I would of course be very interested in learning more about these other insufficiently known machines.

Note: For an explanation of "Machine Number" mold information as indicated on what I'm calling "Mold Tags," see Machine Numbers and Tags, below.

Who Mach. No. Mold Size Mold Type Mach. Size Notes
GJW 113 120 pt No. 4
GJW 149 72 pt No. 3 1/2 formerly loaned to DG
GJW 155 24 pt B-4 script No. 1 "Victorian" style
GJW 201 18 pt B-2 No. 1 1/2 ex-K/HB
GJW 216 18/24 pt K No. 1 1/2 ex-K/HB
GJW 222 18 pt B-2 No. 1 1/2 ex-K/HB
GJW 233 14 pt 03 [BSN] No. 1 ex-K/HB
GJW 371 18 pt "special" No. 1 ex-K/HB
GJW 381 18 pt "sp" No. 1 ex-K/HB
PG 206 24 pt 01, "St. Louis 2" chromed. ex-DG
PG 266 6 pt 01 [SL], "height A" ex-DG
PG 307 8 pt 07 [CE], "height A" ex-DG
PG 402 10 pt See Note A ex-DG
PG 445 10 pt "SOBR". See Note A ex-DG
PG 259 14 pt See Note C ex-DG
PG 361 14 pt See Note C ex-DG
PG 474 14 pt See Note C ex-DG
PG ? See Note D 16 pt 04, St. Louis 2 ex-DG
PG ? See Note F 19.5 pt St. Louis 2 ex-DG
?/PG 3/2 423 12 pt See Note B
?/PG 3/2 514 12 pt T-Body. See Note B
?/PG 3/2 537 12 pt See Note B
?/PG 3/2 225 18 pt See Note E
?/PG 3/2 316 18 pt See Note E
?/PG 3/2 517 18 pt T-Body. See Note E
?/PG 2/1 213 24 pt See Note G
?/PG 2/1 385 24 pt "SOBR". See Note G
? 331 4 pt TR/ATF93 but not PG
DMM 112 60 pt 03, B-4 No. 3 1/2 ex-GJW

Note A. Both 10pt PG machines (#402 and #445) are identified as Mold No. 09 (Mold Tag "1009"). One of these two machines is "height A" and the other is "B-4". [8] I do not know the meaning of "SOBR"; it appears in the ATF93 auction list.

Note B. One of the 12 pt PG machines has a mold no. 01, "heigh A"; Mold 1201 is SL. The other 12 pt PG machine has a mold no. 09, which PG's data identifies as "B-2". [8] It is possible that this is actually a "B-1" mold, since (a) the mold data in Practical Typecasting p. 188 correlates 09 to B-1, and (b) the detailed mold data on p. 184 indicates that B-1 molds were for 6-12 pt while B-2 molds were for 14-24 pt.

Note C. The three PG (ex-DG) 14 pt machines have molds identified in PG's data as follows [8], but it isn't yet clear which machines have which molds. There are also inconsistencies between this data and the mold information in Practical Typecasting.

Note D. No 16 point machine is shown in the 1993 ATF auction list as having been acquired by TR, but PG has a 16 pt machine ex-DG [8]. Three possibilities arise: (a) the ATF93 auction list is in error, (b) this was a machine acquired by TR/DG before ATF93, (c) this was an ATF93 machine now equipped with a different mold. Preliminary information from GJW indicates that (b) is probably the correct solution; this appears to have been a machine acquired by TR for DG prior to ATF93 [9].

Note E. One of the two 18 pt PG machines has a mold no. 01, "St. Louis 2". The other 18 pt PG machine has a mold no. 04, "B-2". [8]

Note F. No 19.5 point machine is shown in the 1993 ATF auction list at all, but PG has a 16 pt machine ex-DG [8]. Three possibilities arise: (a) the ATF93 auction list is in error, (b) this was a machine acquired by TR/DG before ATF93, (c) this was an ATF93 machine now equipped with a different mold. No 19.5 pt mold information is shown in PT.

Note G. Three 24 pt machines are known to have been acquired by TR for DG at ATF93 and in trade afterwards. One of these, # 206 (the chrome-plated machine), is specifically identified in the care of PG [8].

Of the two other ex-TR/DG 24 pt machines, one is in the care of PG [8]. The location/disposition of the other is unknown to me at present. The second (that is, not # 206) PG 24 pt machine is equipped with an 03, B-2, mold. [8] I do not know the meaning of "SOBR"; it appears in the ATF93 auction list.

1.2. List of Surviving Machines with Provenances

This is a more detailed list with provenances, sorted by machine number:

# 112. Size No. 3 1/2. 60pt 03 (=B-4) mold. Purchased by GJW at ATF93. [1] [2] [6] Acquired by DMM in 2014.

# 113. Size No. 4. 120pt. Purchased by GJW at ATF93. [1] [2] [5] [6]

# 149. Size No. 3 1/2. 72pt. Purchased by GJW at ATF93. [2] [6] Loaned to DG; returned to GJW in 2014. [1]

# 155. Size No. 1. 24pt script mold, B-4. (Mold casts rectangular-body type; it is "script" as it is B-4 drive (deeper) when B-2 would be the expected depth for 24pt.) A "Victorian" style machine purchased by TR at ATF93 [6] and then traded by TR to GJW in exchange for # 206 (the chrome-plated show machine). [2] [5]

# 201. Size No. 1 1/2. 18pt B-2 mold. Used for zinc type casting at ATF. Purchased by K at ATF93. [6] Acquired from K by HB. Converted back to typemetal by HB. Acquired from HB by GJW. [5]

# 206. 24pt. Mold 01, "St. Louis 2" [8]. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 [6], but traded (before its removal) with GJW in exchange for No. 234 (which JJ had damaged during the auction). Traded by GJW to TR in exchange for # 155 (the 24pt "Victorian" machine). # 206 is a machine which had been partially chrome plated and spotted ( often, but problematically, called "engine turned") for display (probably at a Chicago printing show in the 1960s). [1] [2] [5]

# 213. 24pt. See Note G, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Of the three 24 pt TR/ATF93 machines, # 206 (the chrome plated machine) is verified as being in the care of PG. Of the other two machines (# 213 and # 385), one is in the care of PG and the location/disposition of the other is unknown to me [7] [8].

# 216. Size No. 1 1/2. Formerly equipped with an 18/24 pt K mold (K probably is "Kingsley"). Used for zinc type casting at ATF. Purchased by K at ATF93 [6]. Acquired from K by HB. Converted back to typemetal by HB. Acquired from HB by GJW. [5]

# 222. Size No. 1 1/2. 18pt B-2 mold. Used for zinc type casting at ATF. Purchased by K at ATF93 [6]. Acquired from K by HB. Converted back to typemetal by HB. Acquired from HB by GJW. [5]

# 225. 18pt. See Note E, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Two of the three TR/ATF93 18 pt machines (this one, # 316, and # 517) are now in the care of PG; the location/disposition of the third is unknown to me [7] [8].

# 233. Size No. 1. 1403 mold (= 14pt "BSN" by the table in ( {Rehak 1993}, p. 188). Used for zinc type casting at ATF. Purchased by K at ATF93 [6]. Acquired from K by HB. Converted back to typemetal by HB. Acquired from HB by GJW. [5]

# 259. 14pt. See Note C, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Now in the care of PG [7].

# 266. 6pt. Mold No. 01 [SL], "height A" [8]. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Now in the care of PG [7].

# 307. 8pt. Mold No. 07 [CE], "height A" [8]. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Now in the care of PG [7].

# 316. 18pt. See Note E, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Two of the three TR/ATF93 18 pt machines (# 225, this one, and # 517) are now in the care of PG; the location/disposition of the third is unknown to me [7] [8].

# 331. 4pt. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Location unknown to me at this time [8].

# 361. 14pt. See Note C, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Now in the care of PG [7].

# 371. Size No. 1. "18 special" mold. Used for zinc type casting at ATF. Purchased by K at ATF93 [6]. Acquired from K by HB. Converted back to typemetal by HB. Acquired from HB by GJW. [5]

# 381. Size No. 1. "18pt zinc / 18 sp." mold. Used for zinc type casting at ATF. Purchased by K at ATF93 [6]. Acquired from K by HB. Converted back to typemetal by HB. Acquired from HB by GJW. [5]

# 385. 24pt. "SOBR". See Note G, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Of the three 24 pt TR/ATF93 machines, # 206 (the chrome plated machine) is verified as being in the care of PG. Of the other two machines (# 213 and # 385), one is in the care of PG and the location/disposition of the other is unknown to me [7] [8].

# 402. 10pt. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Now in the care of PG. Both 10pt PG machines (this and #445) are identified as Mold No. 09 (Mold Tag "1009"); one of these two machines is "height A" and the other is "B-4". [7]. [8].

# 423. 12pt. See Note B, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Two of the three TR/ATF93 12 pt machines (this one, # 514, and # 537) are now in the care of PG; the location/disposition of the third is unknown to me [7] [8].

# 445. 10pt. "SOBR". Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. [6]. Now in the care of PG. Both 10pt PG machines (this and #402) are identified as Mold No. 09 (Mold Tag "1009"); one of these two machines is "height A" and the other is "B-4". [7]. [8].

# 474. 14pt. See Note C, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Now in the care of PG [7].

# 514. 12pt. T-body. See Note B, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Two of the three TR/ATF93 12 pt machines (# 423, this one, and # 537) are now in the care of PG; the location/disposition of the third is unknown to me [7] [8].

# 517. 18pt. T-body. See Note E, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Two of the three TR/ATF93 18 pt machines (# 225, # 316, and this one) are now in the care of PG; the location/disposition of the third is unknown to me [7] [8].

# 537. 12pt. See Note B, above, for mold information. Purchased by TR for DG at ATF93 [6]. Two of the three TR/ATF93 12 pt machines (# 423, # 514, and this one) are now in the care of PG; the location/disposition of the third is unknown to me [7] [8].

# ?. 16 pt. Mold 04, "St. Louis 2" See Note D, above. Now in the care of PG [8].

# ?. 19.5 pt. "St. Louis 2" mold. No Mold Tag information in PG's data; with this unusual mold size the machine may not have a Mold Tag. See Note F, above. Now in the care of PG [8].

1.3. Machines Known to have been Destroyed

Barth Type Casters known by serial number which have been destroyed:

# 111. 72pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 114. 36pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 117. 96pt. Purchased by GJW at ATF93 but abandoned (insufficient weight capacity on truck). [1] [2] [6]. Presumed scrapped by JJ.

# 118. 84pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 119. 42pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 120. 36pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 123. 24pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]. Note: The ATF auction results list both Lot 147 as # 123 (24pt) and Lot 179 as # 123 (48pt).

# 123. 48pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]. Note: The ATF auction results list both Lot 147 as # 123 (24pt) and Lot 179 as # 123 (48pt).

# 128. 24pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 130. 48pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 132. 42pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 134. 48pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 142. 60pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 143. 36pt. Purchased by GJW at ATF93 [6] but abandoned (insufficient weight capacity on truck). [1] [2]. Presumed scrapped by JJ.

# 145. 36pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 148. 24pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 153. 30pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 154. 48pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 157. 6pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 202. 12pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 214. 18pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 227. 18pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 229. 6pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 230. "9pt MONARCH". Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 234. 10pt. Purchased at ATF93 by GJW [6], but severely damaged by JJ during the auction. Traded (before its removal) with JJ for No. 206 (the chromed machine). No. 234 was scrapped by JJ. It was a machine with a curved-spoke flywheel, which despite high s/n was said by TR to be really old. [1] [2]

# 248. 18pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 251. 5 1/2 pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 258. 8pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 301. 14pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 306. 6pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 311. "14pt MONACH" [sic; "MONARCH?]. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 318. 12pt T-Body. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 323. 6pt, "MARK". Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 337. 72pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 338. 12pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 341. 6pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 347. 10pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 348. 6pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 352. 8pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 354. 10pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 355. [12 pt ? - illegible in auction list] Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 362. 10pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 363. 14pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 365. 18pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 366. 10pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 367. 12pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 373. 32pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 383. 18pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 388. 5pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 401. [? pt - illegible in auction list] Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 403. 12pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 408. 12pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 418. 24pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 468. 30pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 483. 6pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 518. 18pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 522. 12pt. T-body. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 524. 18pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 530. 12pt. T-body. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

# 606. 6pt. Purchased by JJ at ATF93 and scrapped. [6]

Barth Type Casters as yet known only by characteristics which have been destroyed:

1.4. Abbreviations

2. Notes

2.1. Machine Numbers and Tags

Mold Tags:

Typically Barth casters have a metal tag affixed to their uppper left corner. This tag carries a three or four digit number which identifies the installed mold size and mold type. The mold type is always the last two digits. Thus, "6003" indicates a 60 point mold body size and a mold of number "03" within the 60 point molds. I'll call this (I'm making this up) the "Mold Tag," even though it is pinned to the machine, not the mold itself.

The 60 in this Mold Tag is self-explanatory. To find out what a 60 point "03" mold is, look in TR's Practical Typecasting ( {Rehak 1993}) at the charts on pp. 188-190. Find the line for 60 point molds, and look up the "03" mold within it. This reveals that it is a "B-4" mold with a depth-of-drive of 0.1241. Sometimes these ex-ATF charts give further information as to the originating foundry, sometimes they do not. It is useful also to be aware of the ATF manufacturing foundry letter codes. Through these it is possible to identify some of the mold codes (e.g., a "B-4" style of mold originated with the 'B' foundry, which was the consolidation of the New York operations).

For the "B-" molds and many "STL" molds we are fortunate that further information is available on p. 183 of PT where TR reproduces a DG chart of detailed mold and matrix data.

Note that the last two digits of the Mold Tag are unique within a specific body size, but not between body sizes. So for example a "1203" mold (12 point, mold no. 03) is a St. Louis mold, not a B mold.

Machine Numbers:

Each ATF caster was at some point assigned a number. These numbers are on metal tags pinned to the machines; they are not stamped directly into the frame. Typically, they are a bit below and to the right of the Mold Tag. In the past these have usually been called "serial numbers," but for reasons discussed below I wish to avoid that term (they are not really serial numbers), and will try to call them "Machine Numbers" (though I'm sure I'll also call them "serial numbers" at times).

These are not true manufacturing serial numbers, but rather are simply caster identification numbers. The run of numbers seems to include Barths, the space and quad casters (which weren't Barths), and pivotal casters (it may also have included other casters from the constituent foundries which did not survive). There is evidence that these numbers were not assigned to machines in order of manufacture (clearly old machines sometimes bore higher numbers than apparently newer ones). The highest machine number known for a Barth is 606, but this does not imply that over 600 Barths were built.

Machine Size Numbers:

Barth Type Casters were manufactured in several sizes, from No. 1 to No. 4, with additional fractional sizes. TR identifies sizes 1, 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/4, 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2, and 4. ( {Rehak 1993}, p. 44) The number for each machine is stamped into the top surface of the left arm of the "apron" of the machine ("apron" = the table-like surface that you would naturally use as a working surface in the front of the caster). Each machine size could accept a range of mold sizes, but ATF practice was to assign a specific mold to an individual machine and dedicate the machine to that mold.

TR also indicates that there were "wide set" variants of the Nos. 1 1/4, 1 1/2, and 2 machines (see Extinct Machine Types, below). I do not know how these would have been indicated in the numbers stamped on the machines. It is possible that we will never know, since TR indicates that all of these "wide set" machines were scrapped by 1960.

ATF Property Tags:

Some or all [I'm not sure if all do] of these casters also bear a third metal tag pinned to the machine, somewhat below the Machine Number tag. This appears to be an ATF property inventory tag and does not seem to be relevant to the identification of the physical characteristics of the machine.

2.2. "Extinct" Machine Types

TR says that the No. 2 size Barth is "extinct as a species." ( {Rehak 1993}, p. 44)

TR also says that there were "also wide-set variants of the No. 1 1/4, No. 1 1/2, and No. 2 machines (all of which were scrapped by 1960." ( {Rehak 1993}, p. 44)

GJW indicates that no machines survive in these sizes: 30pt, 36pt, 48pt, 54pt, 84pt, 96pt, 108pt, 144pt.

ATF at times also sold 7, 9, and 42 point type, at least in weight fonts (see for example the 1924 Price List A-2 I do not know if these were cast on pivotal or Barth casters, but no Barths survive in these sizes.

2.3. Historical Production Notes

(See also the End-of-Business Caster Counts, below.)

Early ATF Annual Reports make specific references to the production of Barth Type Casters.

1894:

"Thirteen [Barth] machines, in addition to those acquired by consolidation, have been since acquired by the company, and thirteen more have been manufactured, making forty-four Barth automatic machines already in the equipment."

[This statement is quite interesting. It indicates that (a) the foundries amalgamated into ATF had 18 Barth casters at amalgamation, (b) ATF had since then manufactured 13 more, and (c) ATF had purchased 13 more. This last item implies that before the amalgamation of ATF the Cincinnati Type Foundry had sold at least 13 Barth type casters to foundries other than those which became ATF. So in October 1894 the world census of Barth Type Casters was 44 at ATF plus zero or more from pre-1892 Cincinnati sales at non-ATF foundries.]

1895:

"The manufacture and introduction of improved machinery has been pushed as fast as our facilities have allowed. Perfecting machines [I presume this means Barth Type Casters] were ordered in November last, to be built in Cincinnati and Philadelphia, and later in New York, and while they were notcompleted in time to show results in the last fiscal year, they will now be installed at the rate of six machines a month."

1896:

"The policy of the Company in the extension of its Automatic Plants has been continued, and during the year several Foundries, among the most important of the Company have been equipped with Automatic Casting Machines for Body Type. Other automatics are now in the process of construction in the shops of the Company, and the close of the current year should see the full equipment of all your Foundries with improved machinery for all classes of type."

[This is interesting also because it suggests a date for the introduction of the larger sizes of Barth casters.]

1897:

"... the fact of economies of production, growing out of the investment during the previous year in automatic machinery and labor-saving devices, ..."

Some small number of Barth casters were sent to SB in England by 1934. The information from [4], which is ultimately from HB, suggests that three machines were sent (24pt, 48pt, and 60pt). However, the drawings examined to date are for 12pt and 24pt machines. Note that the drawings (which are by SB) do not actually say "Barth" or "ATF" - they just refer to American style machines (but they do look like Barth components).

Rehak says that in 1947 27 Barths were shipped to Holland (he says to "Amsterdam Continental," but surely he meant Typefoundry Amsterdam; Amsterdam Continental was a US importer of European types). He notes further that they were not used successfully there and that by 1950 "most" of these machines had been returned to ATF. He doesn't say "all." [3], p. 54

3. Documents

[click image to read]

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ATF 1993 Auction Results

This is a 12-page list giving the results of the 1993 ATF auction in which the physical plant of the company was dissolved. It is missing the page which has lots 483 - 543.

This is a multigenerational photocopy, and it is not always legible. If anyone in the community has a clearer or more complete copy, I would be very interested in acquiring a scan or photocopy of it.

My thanks to the late Dr. Ludwig Mohr of Krause Intaglio for this document.

[click image to read]

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Type Casters at the 1993 ATF Auction

This is a table listing all of the type casters sold at the 1993 ATF auction (Barth, pivotal, and the space and quad machines) compiled by DMM It gives a view of the complement of machines at ATF at its end.

The icon at left links to a PDF version of this list. Here is the original .ods format spreadsheet: type-casters-atf-1993-list.ods

4. Statistics

4.1. End-of-Business Caster Counts

Given the caveat that my copy of the 1993 auction list is missing a page, at the time its plant was liquidated in 1993, ATF had 87 Barth Type Casters. (GJW says 96, but this may include the 8 non-Barth space and quad machines and the one parts-machine Barth.) This total includes 5 machines casting T-body type (Multigraph type, I presume) and 6 casting zinc type.

It had 16 pivotal type casters of unspecified mold sizes, including 3 "giant" pivotals capable of casting up to 144 point type. This figure includes 4 machines described as "junk" by GJW.

It had 8 non-Barth space and quad casters casting material at 6, 10, 12, 18, 24, and 36 point. (I believe that these were the Ziegler machines which originated at MacKellar, Smiths and Jordan.)

So, excluding the parts-machine Barth and the 4 "junk" pivotals, ATF had 87 + 8 + 12 = 107 nominally working type casters when it ceased business.

The highest known machine number is 642. If all numbers were allocated, and presuming that they started with 100, this means that no more than (107 / 542) = approx. 20 percent of the casters at ATF had survived to the end.

Ignoring differences in mold and matrix geometry, the body sizes of the Barths break down like this:

Body Size Regular Machines T-Body Machines Zinc Machines
4 1
5 1
5 1/2 1
6 9
8 3
9 1
10 7
12 7 4 1
14 6
18 9 1 5
24 8
30 2
32 1
36 4
42 2
48 4
54 0
60 2
72 3
84 1
96 1
108 0
120 1
144 0
Unknown 2

I've left out 7 and 9 point machines, since I have not yet verified that ATF used Barths to cast type at these sizes. "Unknown" simply means that I can't read the point size in my present copy of the ATF93 auction results.

It is interesting that some sizes known to have been cast on Barths (such as 54 point) could not at this time be cast at all by automatic machinery.

4.2. Relative Survival Rates

One necessary first order of business in the conservation of any artifact is an estimation of how rare or common it is. Your resources are finite, and without this information you cannot use them wisely.

But anyone familiar with type casting machinery will understand that this estimation is impossible for these machines. The production information simply wasn't recorded. Even a census of surviving machines, few as they are, is difficult. (Some custodians of surviving machines are very forthcoming with information, some are not.)

Yet the fact that it is impossible is irrelevant. It must be done to the extent that it can be done. I've begun such a census for all type casting machines, together with estimates of total production. This will be reported at: A Census of Surviving Typecasting Machines. [BUT NOTE: This link is currently (May 2018) broken because this general census is still so preliminary that I haven't put the Notebook online yet.]

Brief, preliminary, incomplete summary as of May 2018 [DO NOT rely upon this information - it will change]:

(1) The most numerous surviving caster is the Thompson, with 83 firmly identified (and probably slightly over 90 total). This estimate may change if more Monotype Type-&-Rule Casters or Chinese ZD-201 casters turn up.

The Thompson was a simple, durable, capable, and flexible machine and several thousand were built. It is not a surprise that it leads in survival count, though not in survival rate.

(2) Very few pivotal type casters survive, even though this type had the longest service career (1838 to circa 2009).

The pivotal was "old fashioned" and frequently the first machine to be scrapped.

(3) The machine most likely to survive in operable condition is the [English] Monotype Super Caster (13 are known to have survived, 11 are operable or nearly so).

The Super Caster was the most modern Western machine, so it is not surprising that of the surviving machines they were the ones in service.

But note that the most modern type casting machine was the Hakko (in Japan); I haven't assembled a proper census of surviving Hakko casters, but it may displace the Super Caster from this position.

(4) The type caster design with the best survival rate (counting all models together, in all conditions) is the Barth. Total production was somewhere between 200 and 300. 25 survive, for a survival rate of at least 8 percent (probably higher).

5. Sources

[1] E-mail to DMM from GJW, 2014-10-19.

[2] Recorded in {Walters 1994}, GJW's account of ATF93.

[3] Recorded in Practical Typecasting {Rehak 1993}.

[4] Sale listing for a collection of SB drawings of Barth casters offered by Collinge & Clark (UK), correspondence from Oliver Clark to DMM in 2014, and the drawings themselves (now owned by DMM).

[5] E-mail to DMM from GJW, 2014-10-27.

[6] 1993 ATF auction results list (reprinted above).

[7] E-mail to DMM and GJW from PG, 2015-01-14.

[8] E-mail to DMM and GJW from PG, 2015-02-02.

[8] E-mail to DMM and PG from GJW, 2015-02-03.