Linotype-Matrix Manufacturers

Manufacturer	Database entry	Marking
Linotype GmbH Berlin und Frankfurt am Main	Unique serial number, e.g. “7995”, without “8△”	Matrices are stamped with the size followed by “△” and the serial number, in the example “8△7995”. Some mats show an “+” instead of the “△”, indicating a non standard magazine coding for combining in a mixer, e.g. small caps [1]. Other have a “□” instead of the “△”, indicating standard or proportional numbers [1]. The serial number is unique to a size of a typeface, e.g. 7995 denotes the 8p Garamond with Italic. 6p of the same typeface has 7994 instead. Strictly speaking, the “8△” is unnecessary. Serial number are four digits, except for Times Roman, where the German Mats have the same marking as the US ones. US Linotype matrices have a different system, where serial numbers (after the “△”) are not unique.
Mergenthaler Linotype Company (US)
L&M Linotype and Machinery Company (UK)
Intertype (US)
Intertype (UK)
AB Berling Matris (TYMA)
Matrotype Company Ltd	Complete marking, e.g. “10A304”	Mats are stamped with the font size followed by “A” and the serial number, in the example “10A304”. The serial number is unique to a size of a typeface, e.g. 304 denotes 10p Times New Roman with italics. 9p of the same typeface has 256 instead. Strictly speaking, the “10A” is unnecessary. Serial numbers have three digits.
Officine Simoncini S.p.A

Linotype GmbH Berlin und Frankfurt am Main

Unique serial number, e.g. “7995”, without “8△”

Matrices are stamped with the size followed by “△” and the serial number, in the example “8△7995”. Some mats show an “+” instead of the “△”, indicating a non standard magazine coding for combining in a mixer, e.g. small caps [1]. Other have a “□” instead of the “△”, indicating standard or proportional numbers [1]. The serial number is unique to a size of a typeface, e.g. 7995 denotes the 8p Garamond with Italic. 6p of the same typeface has 7994 instead. Strictly speaking, the “8△” is unnecessary. Serial number are four digits, except for Times Roman, where the German Mats have the same marking as the US ones. US Linotype matrices have a different system, where serial numbers (after the “△”) are not unique.

Mergenthaler Linotype Company

(US)

L&M Linotype and Machinery Company (UK)

Intertype (US)

Intertype (UK)

AB Berling Matris (TYMA)

Matrotype Company Ltd

Complete marking, e.g. “10A304”

Mats are stamped with the font size followed by “A” and the serial number, in the example “10A304”. The serial number is unique to a size of a typeface, e.g. 304 denotes 10p Times New Roman with italics. 9p of the same typeface has 256 instead. Strictly speaking, the “10A” is unnecessary. Serial numbers have three digits.

Officine Simoncini S.p.A