Lead type

Movable type

Movable type consists of individual pieces, each bearing a raised letter, number or sign, which are combined to form words and pages. After printing they are separated and reused.

In Europe type was cast from an alloy of lead, tin and antimony in hand molds, which made it possible to produce thousands of identical letters. Large posters used wood type, which was lighter and cheaper.

Type was kept in cases with compartments: capitals above and small letters below. That is where the English names "upper case" and "lower case" come from.

The MUNAG holds lead and bronze metal type, wood type, type holders and type quoins, leads and type cabinets.