Rewiring the Linotype machine

Blognosticator Head

I’ve not blogged in quite a while, for which I apologize to my faithful readers. It wasn’t that I didn’t have anything going on. It was that I had writer’s blog. I couldn’t come up with anything to say about what I was doing.

What’s been going on?

I rewired the Model 31 Linotype in Cal Poly’s Shaksepeare Press Museum. It’s a 1941 machine that was provided to us on a very long-term loan from History San Jose. I drove to San Jose and retrieved it last June, and I moved it into the museum in January after taking an older – 1905 – Linotype machine out (among other adjustments). The museum is small – about 2000 square feet, and we have too many presses, too many drawers of type, and too many things biting at our ankles – an old mimeograph machine, small presses, slug cutters, and a variety of stuff that we just can’t find a home for.

Model41Standing

This is the “new” Linotype Model 31 in Cal Poly’s Shakespeare Press Museum. The machine was built in 1941, and was running just one year ago in San Jose. Power is being brought in to run the machine, something I hope to announce soon.

The Linotype was running in San Jose, and I trucked it here with the intention of making it run here. On that front I have made some progress. Electricity is not easy to find in the museum, so I’m paying several thousand dollars to the Cal Poly electricians to bring 120 amps of power to the ceiling above the machine. So far, the conduit is in, but there are no wires in the conduit.

Linotype electrics

This is my wiring schematic for the Model 31 Linotype. I added ground wires where possible (the machine was built before grounding was required). Those components which are not separately grounded are solidly connected to the steel frame of the machine, which is.

On the Linotype end of the project, I realized that I would have to completely rewire the machine. It had a beat-up 3-phase electric box mounted to the back of the machine, and there was no cover, allowing exposed conductors to be within reach of people. That, of course, is dangerous. I bought a Square-D 125 Amp Load Center and wired it as a subpanel with brand new breakers and a proper ground bus, and then I replaced the motor switch and wiring, and the rest of the machine is now wired to-code (mostly).

LinotypeElectric

This is the fully-wired subpanel. The breakers control power to each of the circuits of the machine including the pot, the motor, and the Star Quadder, an add-on electro-hydraulic device that was added to the machine during manufacture to control flush justification of lines of type.

When it’s finished, there will be a cover on the subpanel, and all of the wires will be inside a cabinet or a conduit. This will be much better. Now all I need is the electric service, and a little help from one or more of my Lino-centric friends to get the machine running again. I found a 1940 edition of the Linotype manual, and I have been reading that. It’s surprisingly clear and extraordinarily well illustrated. I have learned a lot in reading that manual.

I remember reading the same book when I was an undergrad at Cal Poly in the early 1970s. It was a textbook for a series of classes that we were required to take: Linotype Maintenance 1, 2 and 3. I wish I remembered more of this, but it has been a while since I have operated – or maintained – a Linotype machine.

I am very proud of my electrical work on the machine. I hope that Ottmar Mergenthaler approves of my “modernization” of his machine.

As I get closer to getting it running, I will report about that on this blog. In the meantime, I’ll be studying my Linotype manual.

About Brian Lawler

Brian Lawler is an Emeritus Professor of Graphic Communication at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and was a Guest Professor at Hochschule München from September, 2021 to September, 2022. He writes about graphic arts processes and technologies for various industry publications, and on his blog, The Blognosticator.
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5 Responses to Rewiring the Linotype machine

  1. Ronald Boyum says:

    Having had 5 months Linotype maintenance training at Dunwwody Industrial Institute, now known as Dunwoody College of Technology. In the early 1970s we had enough Lintotypes for each student. I remember we had a Model 1 and 2 Electrons that had photomats. When I saw you rewired, I had to quickly think what was electrical. The motor, of course, the light, the pot is all I could think of. But alas you have a hot rod model. My first job in the industry was sweeping floors in a hot metal shop with 6 Linos and about 8 Monotypes (clickity, clack,clickity clack.) I also was assigned to remelt the slugs and pour lead pigs. Fortunately I was “promoted” to litho side of the shop to sweep floors. At least I didn’t get any more lead slivers in my knees. Ah those were the good ol’ days.

    • Brian Lawler says:

      Dear Ronald,

      I am often nostalgic for the Linotype era. When I was an undergrad student at Cal Poly in the early 1970s, we had 18 Linotype and Intertype machines. We also had two Elrod machines and a row of Ludlow headline casting machines.

      I was trained as a Linotype operator, which was interesting and fun (sometimes). I did not get as much Linotype maintenance training as I should have had. I could really use that knowledge now, as I restore the “new” Linotype to working condition.

      My friend (and classmate in the 1960s) Bob Kimball and I are doing this work as we get time.

      As for the electrical components of the Linotype, there are separate breakers and circuits for the motor (it’s 110 VAC), the pot, the operator light and maintenance signal light, and the Star Quadder. Beyond that there is a double-duplex electric box on the back for maintenance use. My new electrical system is a 120 Amp load center, and we have single-phase 220 VAC power available. It’s more than needed, but it gives me some room for adding other electrical items if needed.

      Brian

  2. Ronald Boyum says:

    You can always wire the Mohr saw in nearby. I used Ludlow, but don’t know the Elrod. I always tease the guys from RIT, UW Stout, and Ferris State that they went to print management schools, not printing tech schools. We had to punch a time clock, and had 8 hour days with 5 hours hands on and 3 hours class room. They were trying to create an on the job environment.

  3. Erling Sigurdsson says:

    Hello there.
    I´m writing in behalf of a friend of mine that has Linotype machine model 1931 no 57454, that needs new heating element and he needs some manuals for the job, do you know a way to find a copy?
    With best regards
    Erling

    • Brian Lawler says:

      Hi Earl,

      I apologize for the delay in responding. Linotype parts and manuals are relatively easy to find. Try SOS Linotype or Linotype University for both. And there are always Linotype books and manuals available on eBay. Finding a qualified technician is a little harder.

      Brian

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