Lead Identification

[jakharath]

Howdy there! I came across some "Lead" that needs your help to identify.

Each ingot weights about 25 pounds.

Attachment 167824Attachment 167828

Here's where I get lost. Using the pencil test for hardness - a 4H pencil will not scratch the ingot.
Attachment 167825

A screwdriver will scratch it
Attachment 167826Attachment 167827

What would be the next step to figure out what this is?

Thanks,
Jason

[Thumbcocker]

Sure looks like linotype ingots to me.

[mold maker]

Linotype for sure. You lucked out on that. It's becoming like dinosaurs.

[drfroglegs]

Definitely Linotype. I have about 10 of those ingots.

[jakharath]

drfroglegs - are they shaped the same?

[drfroglegs]

Yes. Exactly the same. It's called a pig. Just Google Linotype pig and you'll see a ton of results.

They would use the loop end to hang the bars and would slowly lower them into the Linotype machine to melt. Once melted, they would cast the letters for the type.

I have about 500 lbs of letters and pigs that I bought from a guy in downtown Baltimore who got them from a print company.

[jakharath]

drfroglegs - Thanks!

[John Boy]

Jason - do a search on the forum for linotype ... probably 25 threads on linotype with pictures of those pigs

[Grampo]

Why can't I ever score the harder stuff! Nice find!

[6622729]

Linotype. Nice!