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sffar
07-08-2011, 07:29 PM
Hoping someone can id this and let me know it's likely composition. A friend aquired it from a university art department that was getting rid of it.
Thanks,
Samhttp://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_184884e17929359e14.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=1417)
imashooter2
07-08-2011, 07:40 PM
Monotype.

http://www.lasc.us/CastBulletNotes.htm
sffar
07-08-2011, 08:43 PM
Many thanks, imashooter2. Looks like good stuff to have around.
Sam
bumpo628
07-09-2011, 12:48 AM
Monotype should be:
9% tin, 19% antimony, 72% lead
HARRYMPOPE
07-09-2011, 01:06 AM
If it was from a University art dept and not a printing shop who knows what it may be.Mono was for reused headline type and harder than one time off Linotype blocks.

HM P
sffar
07-09-2011, 08:59 AM
It's true about the art department. This type seems hard, but not all that hard. I should get it tested before using it.
Sam
imashooter2
07-09-2011, 09:59 AM
Bend one of the blocks. Does it snap off?

It seems unlikely that a university art department would obtain a monotype casting machine and then cast their own letters in an alloy of something other than monotype for the students to use in art projects. I suggest that it would be far more cost effective for them to buy their letters commercially cast.
Echo
07-09-2011, 10:59 AM
Melt some down and then test for specific gravity. That should give a good idea as to the actual composition. Not an absolutely correct idea, but a good guess.
sffar
07-09-2011, 10:47 PM
Just bent a block and it definitely snaps in half, and that's a good point about how they'd handle getting their letters. So the snap's a monotype thing? Don't know how to test for specific gravity. A sticky, maybe?
Thanks for the help, here!
imashooter2
07-10-2011, 12:10 AM
Snapping just means the alloy has a bunch of antimony in it. Linotype would snap too. It's a simple test that eliminates softer alloys like hardball or WW. Those would bend.
sffar
07-10-2011, 08:00 AM
It's got a lot of snap to it, alright. Found the specific gravity test procedure at Castpics.
(http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/Classics/Determining%20Alloy%20composition.pdf)
Been a while since I tried calculations like that, but it's worth a try. Knowing it's monotype, I can figure out what it should weigh, which may be a shortcut.
Thanks for the help!
Sam