Linotype Lead ?

[DHC]

I have some smelted SOWW ingots that I need to combine with Linotype to get to the alloy mix I want to try out. On E-bay I found what is described as "Linotype lead" - ad is here --> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Linotype-Lead-13-8-Pounds-Shipping-in-small-Flat-Rate-Box-/231077358943?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35cd48ad5f. Now I've read some things about "spacers" being used that are NOT the same composition as regular linotype. Being a newbie at casting, I am still feeling my way on these things. I know I want linotype, but am not sure if the item being sold is what I am seeking. Any ideas?

TIA

- Dan

[ColColt]

That looks like printers Linotype. That's what we used in an old Kluge press to set type for printing way back many moons ago. It should be around BHN18-22. I still have a small stash left of it when I bought it for 25 cents/lb before they stopped using it. It looks a lot like this box I have.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/_DEF3849.jpg (http://s180.photobucket.com/user/ColColt/media/Misc%20Stuff/_DEF3849.jpg.html)

[DHC]

That looks like printers Linotype. That's what we used in an old Kluge press to set type for printing way back many moons ago. It should be around BHN18-22. I still have a small stash left of it when I bought it for 25 cents/lb before they stopped using it. It looks a lot like this box I have.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/_DEF3849.jpg (http://s180.photobucket.com/user/ColColt/media/Misc%20Stuff/_DEF3849.jpg.html)

Thanks for the response - that was just what I needed - someone with experience who knows what they are looking at. The current prices are a far cry from what you paid - but the E-bay prices are still a long way from what Rotometals is charging for their linotype ingots. I'll probably give it a go and see what happens.

Thanks.

[ColColt]

Keep in mind that was 1972 prices! Primers were also a penny each back then.

[bangerjim]

The "spacers", as you call them, are called in the trade "leading" and were used between the lines of type to get the needed spacing for the article or page. Those strips may be hard and may NOT be hard! Depending on who made them and from what they had on hand to make them. I have leading strips that range from <10 to ~22 in hardness. The spacers did not need to be hard because they did not have to pound on the printing platen many thousands of times to print the material. All they had to do is keep the lino in place!

I would be VERY leery of any ebay crapola seller that tells you he selling 22 harness "lino" spacing strips!!!!!! Unless you can verify he has an accurate tester and not just guessing or using artist pencils.

BUYER BEWARE! I have read several times on here where people were "crying in their beer" because the stuff they bought from that evil site from a lying cheating seller was advertised as lino and it was the softer lead strips! ¾ of the people selling on there do not know a darned thing about what they are doing.

I do not use ebay for anything anymore. Used to be reputable, but now you cannot trust anyone because everyone is out to make a fast buck.

bangerjim

[ColColt]

That LT on ebay doesn't appear to be spacers. Spacers are flat with no ridges like most of those shown that do have ridges. They most always have holes or voids on their edges and were as much LT as the others without type set on them. Those have type on them like the ones I show in my box and they came straight from Carolina Linotype in the early 70's. I wouldn't be afraid to buy them but suit yourself.

[Baryngyl]

The other thing to watch for on ebay that I have seen a lot of is they do not use a picture of what they are really selling and unless you read the description really well you will not see the "photo does not represent actual item you will receive" or something to that effect.

Right after the first PlayStation came out you would not believe how many auctions there were that were selling just the EMPTY PlayStation boxes, the photos in the auctions would show a PS as well as the box it came in and if you did not read the description and see the "you are bidding only on the empty box" as it seems a lot of people did, they would see the photo and bid according to what they saw, then complain like crazy when they got just the EMPTY BOX that they had bid on.
A lot of EMPTY BOXES sold for more then the PS its self was worth in the retail stores, LOL.



Michael Grace