You are legally old in this country when you turn 65. I've got right at four months to go. But when I was young linotype wasn't all that hard to get. Of course newspapers were still using type way back then.
Now linotype is getting hard to get. I think that Midays is charging over $220 for 55 pounds plus shipping. And they don't carry much. Placing a 300 pound order would exceed their supply and cost WAY to much.
The two sources I use to use were Bill Ferguson and Art Green. Did business with both for decades.
I talked to Bill yesterday. I think that he is in his mid-80's. He isn't selling alloy anymore. And well, he just isn't young anymore. Made me very sad.
Just got off the phone with Art. Art is approaching 80 but he still works 12+ hour days. His older brother, who I think is 96, also is still working and in good health. Arts family lives so long that they are in some government study that is trying to figure out why some people just don't seem to age.
Art has linotype. He is buying and selling it constantly. About one dollar a pound plus shipping I think. I've got 4200 pounds on order. I don't need it all at once. Art will probably ship 50 to 100 pounds a month until the order has been filled.
So I don't think that linotype is hard to find nor expensive IF you know where to look. Art certainly has it (310-274-1283). You only reach him by phone and that may take awhile as this is a one man operation. And Art is low tech. He still uses carbon paper.
Is this an ad for Art? I suppose so but I did it for a reason. Bill recently posted on the web that Art was out of commission. That's not true. Art has no internet access so somebody had to speak up for him. Art is getting phone calls from customers wondering if he is out of business. HE IS NOT!