To John Marder we owe the development of the American point system of type bodies. The Marder system was not immediately adopted, but as developed by later inventions its superiority was so great that in spite of the trouble and expense involved in the standardization of type it finally became universal. L. B. Benton introduced the use of accurate unit width of type. Previously the width of the letters had varied with each character. This resulted in a multiplicity of widths of type. Benton’s theory was that quicker typesetting and more uniform spacing could be obtained by having the types standardized on a minimum number of widths and securing the proper space between characters by modifying the shapes of certain letters to conform to these widths. Benton’s type was popularly called “self-spacing” although the name was misapplied. Another disadvantage then existing was that similar style type faces from different foundries did not line, and even the height-to-paper of types varied. Type sizes which were supposedly the same, in reality varied considerably in different foundries. The confusion and difficulty for the printer arising out of this lack of standards may easily be imagined. Each foundry had its own width and size of type, and in many cases its size varied by a considerable fraction of a point from that of other foundries. Very probably this condition was deliberately maintained by some foundries for the purpose of holding the entire trade of their customers, the idea being that if the types coming from different foundries did not go together well the customer would naturally be led to buy all of his type in the same place. The improvement of these conditions was brought about by the introduction of the point system of bodies, Benton’s unit width, and the perfection of the lining and unit set systems now in use. Some important foundries held out against these improvements for years, but the demands of their customers, who perceived the great advantages of the standardized type, finally compelled adhesion to the new system. One important result of these changes was the invention of the punch-cutting or engraving machine. The adoption of the improved system required the production of a vast number of new punches which had formerly been cut by hand. It was impossible to find enough skilled workmen to meet this demand and the engraving machine now used for making punches was accordingly devised by Benton. The field for the artistic development of type is inexhaustible, but it is difficult to imagine how type, as a mechanical product, can be improved beyond its present condition. The completeness and perfection of the system, the excellence of the machinery, and the skill in processes which have been developed make the product apparently perfect. CHAPTER III COMPOSING AND TYPE-CASTING MACHINES