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I LANSTON TYPE COMPANY I GERALD GIAMPA I
¶ THE BENTON PANTOGRAPH was originally used to cut the type design directly into matrices for type founding. This left a Chinese hat shaped lead fin that extended beyond the body of the type. These fins had to be shaved or rubbed down after the type was cast.
American Typefounders Company purchased the Benton Pantograph technology and adapted it for cutting punches which avoided the problem. The Pantograph was the mother of modern day letterpress machine composition. These machines were necessary in both the Monotype and Linotype typesetting systems.
Lanston Type Company owns more Benton Pantographs than any company in existence today.
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¶ SUMNER STONE WITH JIM RIMMER watching the Benton Pantograph cutting a punch: Sort of like watching a boxing match, the spectators hands secretly swinging, feet flickering, jaws contorting. But it was not their fight, it was John B. Frame's. Afterwards I learned to cut punches, never cutting a complete face though. Just maintaining damaged Monotype punches. I punched more matrices than any person ever in Canada.
GERALD GIAMPA
Punchcutter