When Johnson's foundry merged with MacKellar Smiths&Jordan foundry, the typeface was designated Original Old Style, to distinguish it from other typefaces in the same category. Johnson simply called the typeface Old Style, as family names were a later development. Otherwise there is virtually no difference between the American and English versions, except for later additions such as dollar mark and various swash letters-the latter are discussed later. If strikes were finished in this country-the usual process of accurately fitting them for width and position on the type body-this would allow for the fact that some sizes, especially in the 14- to 24-point range, are more loosely fitted here than in England. Many of the mats still available at ATF, successors to Johnson, are electrotypes-but then, mats wear out anyway, and are commonly replaced by electrotyping existing virgin cast type when patterns or punches are not available. The latter account is most unlikely, but the other two possibilities are interestingly credible. Another account says he had strikes-unfinished matrices-made from the original punches, while a third account says he obtained the original matrices. There are several accounts of how this was done some say Johnson had fonts specially cast, from which he made electrotype matrices.
#A caslon font mac#
Mac McGrew: In 1858, Laurence Johnson, a prominent Philadelphia typefounder, visited London and arranged with the successors to William Caslon to duplicate the Caslon types. The additional large sizes are an attractive generalized design. The difference is primarily in the descenders, very unattractively shortened in some sizes of 540 lining figures replace the hanging style, and a few other slight changes have been made. In Caslon 540, each size is the equivalent of the next larger size of 471, including some obsolete odd sizes. This is due to the fact that all the original characters were cut by hand, before the invention of precise mechanical systems for enlarging and reducing drawings.
One of the most noticeable features of Caslon is its lack of uniformity from one size to another. Several other foundries, including BB&S, Hansen, and Keystone, produced similar Caslons. 540, with similarly shortened descenders but essentially the original roman and italic designs otherwise. Inland is the only type foundry which casts this typeface on standard line." This meant that they had considerably shortened the descending letters they had also redesigned the italic extensively.
#A caslon font series#
"We have obtained the sole right from the originating house to manufacture this series in the United States. Louis, advertised its own version of Caslon Old Style in 1901, with the claim.
Monotype keyboard sizes (including large composition to 18-point) are modified considerably to fit standard arrangements, but the only apparent difference in display sizes is the redrawn T and g shown separately in the specimen alphabet and the addition of ligatures and diphthongs on Linotype and Intertype. Mac McGrew: The most popular Caslon Bold was introduced by Keystone Type Foundry in 1905, followed by Italic in 1906 and Condensed and Extended versions about 1911 this is the version made by ATF and in regular widths by Monotype. Mac McGrew: Caslon Adbold, originating with Keystone in 1913, is characterized by heavier strokes throughout Extended and Extra Condensed versions followed in 1915 to 1917 all were patented and presumably designed by R.