Editing Type metal (section)

== Historic references to type metals ==
[[Joseph Moxon]], in his ''Mechanick Exercises'', mentions a mix of equal amounts of "antimony" and iron [[nail (fastener)|nails]].<ref>Joseph Moxon, ''Mechanick Exercises'', page 164, Sect. XVIII, reprint of the 1896-edition, Thoemmes Press, Bristol, UK.</ref>

{{Cquote|Paragraph 2. ''Of making'' Mettal.

The Metal ''Founders'' make ''Printing Letters'' of, is ''Lead'' hardned with ''Iron'': Thus they chuse ''stub-Nails'' for the best Iron to Melt, as well because they are asured ''stub-Nails'' are made of good soft and tough ''Iron'', as because (they being in small pieces of ''Iron'') will Melt the sooner. To make the ''Iron Run'', they mingle an equal weight of ''Antimony'' (beaten in an Iron-Morter into small pieces) and ''stub-Nails'' together. And preparing so many Earthen forty or fifty pounds Melting-pots (made for that purpose to endure the ''Fire'') as they intend to use: They ''Charge'' these Pots with the mingeld ''Iron'' and ''Antimony'' as full as they will hold.

Every time they melt ''Mettal'', they built a new ''Furnace'' to melt it in: This ''Furnace'' is called an ''Open Furnace''; because the air blows in through all its sides to fan the ''Fire''. They make it of bricks in an open place, as well because the air may have free access to all its sides, as that the vapours of the ''Antimony'' (which are obnoxious) may the less offend those that officiate at the ''Making'' the ''Mettal'': And also because the violent fire made in the ''Furnace'' should not endanger the Firing any adjacent Houses. | Moxon}}

The "antimony" here was in fact [[stibnite]], antimony-sulfide (Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>). The iron was burned away in this process, reducing the antimony and at the same time removing the unwanted [[sulfur]]. In this way ferro-sulfide was formed, that would evaporate with all the fumes.

The mixture of stibnite and nails was heated red hot in an open-air [[Metallurgical furnace|furnace]], until all is molten and finished. The resulting metal can contain up to 9% of iron. Further purification can be done by mixing the hot melt with kitchen-salt, NaCl. After this red hot lead from another melting pot is added and stirred thoroughly.<ref>''The Typecasters'', Ellic Howe in: The Monotype-recorder, vol. XLI, summer 1957, nr.1</ref>

Some tin was added to the alloy for casting small characters and narrow spaces, to better fill narrow areas of the mould. The good properties of tin were well known. The use of tin was sometime minimized to save expenses.

Much of this toxic work was done by [[child labour]], a [[labor force]] that includes [[child]]ren.<ref>Joseph Moxon, ''Mechanick Exercises'', page 167, Sect. XVIII, reprint of the 1896-edition, Thoemmes Press, Bristol, UK.</ref>

{{Cquote|Hitherto a Man (nay, a Boy) might officiate all this work.| Moxon}}

As a supposed [[antidote]] to the inhaled toxic metal fumes, the workers were given a mixture of [[red wine]] and salad oil:<ref>Joseph Moxon, ''Mechanick Exercises'', page 168, Sect. XVIII, reprint of the 1896-edition, Thoemmes Press, Bristol, UK.</ref>

{{Cquote|Now (according to Custom) is Half a Pint of Sack mingled with Sallad Oyl, provided for each Workman to drink; intended or an Antidote against the Poysonous Fumes of the ''Antimony'', and to restore the Spirits that so Violent a Fire and Hard Labour may have exhausted. |Moxon}}