The Caslon type foundry was a type foundry in London which cast and sold metal type. It was founded by the punchcutter and typefounder William Caslon I, probably in 1720. For most of its history it was based at Chiswell Street, Islington, was the oldest type foundry in London, and the most prestigious.
Painting of William Caslon, founder of the Caslon type foundry, by Francis Kyte. He holds his specimen of his types.
William Caslon's specimen sheet (dated 1734 but actually issued from 1738 onwards). Some of the types shown were not cut by Caslon, most notably the French Canon roman (probably cut by Joseph Moxon)
The Caslon family chest tomb at St Luke's, Old Street
During the late 18th century the poster began to appear, creating a new market for printing. A watercolour of a theatre shows posters outside
Punchcutting is a craft used in traditional typography to cut letter punches in steel as the first stage of making metal type. Steel punches in the shape of the letter would be used to stamp matrices into copper, which were locked into a mould shape to cast type. Cutting punches and casting type was the first step of traditional typesetting. The cutting of letter punches was a highly skilled craft requiring much patience and practice. Often the designer of the type would not be personally involved in the cutting.
A punch (left) and the respective matrix produced from it (right). The small letters at the base of the matrix are founders marks.
A counter-punch and a punch for letter A
A punchcutter working for the Imprimerie Nationale demonstrates cutting a punch for a Qu ligature.
A demonstration by punchcutter Nelly Gable. The candle is to transfer soot onto the punch to make a smoke proof, a check of the punch's current impression on paper.
