Preserving hot-metal typecasting and composition
A message from Franz Hennies of the Hot Type Network
I would like to introduce The Hot Type Network to you. You might have already seen some of our activities, e.g. on Instagram.
It is a European community initiated by three museums — the Grafiska Museet in Helsingborg, Sweden; the Pressemuseet Fjeld-Ljoms Venner in Røros, Norway; and TYPA in Tartu, Estonia — with the aim of bringing together people who are interested in preserving hot metal line- and typecasting, and learning and teaching the skills needed to operate, maintain and repair these machines. We are doing this being conscious that a lot of knowledge rests with people who are getting older, and we are happy to report that the majority of people who are participating in our training courses this year are below the age of 50.
In 2025, with funding from Nordic Culture Point, we are organising three one-week training courses in our museums and four online meetups, and we hope to continue with many more in the coming years. During a recent week in Tartu, Estonia, we managed to bring a 102 year old German Linotype 10 back into operation, a four magazine, four distributor mixer. This needed disassembling of the distributor and assembler and adjustment of a number of cams, rollers, and latches.
The network is open for everyone interested in participating, and our online meetups are free to take part in.
A good way to learn about us is to visit our homepage and subscribe to our newsletter. Also, if you are using Instagram, please follow us:
@hottypenetwork @grafiskamuseet @typacentre @pressemuseet_fjeldljoms_venner
Also, you might consider following me personally: @franzhennies
Cheers,
Franz