Double case is here taken to describe a case divided into three bays, two to hold the lower case and one to hold the upper case of a full fount. One of the traditional differences in style of these cases is the box top left in the central bay (i.e. above the i box). One style has a single box, as listed below, and the other has a divided box, listed under Job Cases, and generally of U.S. rather than English origin. Note that the overall dimensions are different, English cases being about 32½x14½ inches whereas U.S. ones, for example, are 32¼x16¾ inches. A few other three bay cases are listed separately, although fairly similar to a Double case.
Double cases are made in three basic patterns of right hand "upper" case rows:
Seven rows for upper | Six rows for upper | Five rows for upper | U.S. five rows upper |
In addition, there are some cases with three, four, nine, or sixteen rows for upper. Also, upper row sizes vary, thus row pattern 7 = 7 rows all the same size, 2:4 = top two rows with smaller boxes then 4 with larger boxes, 1:3:1 = top row small, middle 3 large, bottom row small. |
Sixteen rows for "Upper" | No. of boxes in left section | No. of boxes in centre section | No. of boxes in right section | Upper row pattern |
---|---|---|---|---|
Greek Double Case No.1 (Caslon 1925) | 40 | 32 | 128 | 16 |
Greek Double Case No.2 (Caslon 1925) | 37 | 33 | 128 | 16 |
Seven rows for "Upper" | ||||
Double Case (M&R 1873) | 25 | 29 | 49 | 7 |
Ordinary Double Case (Southward 1882) | 24 | 29 | 49 | 7 |
Shanks' Music Lower Case (Southward 1882) | 40 | 37 | 56 | 7 |
As the above Shanks case has 3 sections, it is possibly better considered a Double rather than a Lower case | ||||
Double Case (Southward 1887) | 23 | 27 | 49 | 7 |
Gem Music Lower Case (Southward 1898) | 29 | 27 | 49 | 105 |
As the above Gem case has 3 sections, it is possibly better considered a Double rather than a Lower case | ||||
Combined Upper and Lower Case (New Norcia 2013) | 24 | 29 | 98 | 7 |
Six rows for "Upper" | ||||
Improved Double Case (Caslon 1897) | 24 | 29 | 42 | 2:4 |
Reversed Improved Double Case (Alembic Press 2009) | 42 | 24 | 29 | 2:4 |
Improved Double No.3 case (Ullmer 1902) | 21 | 29 | 42 | 2:4 |
Talbot Double Case (Talbot late 1960s) | 24 | 29 | 42 | 1:3:2 |
Five rows for "Upper" | ||||
Improved Jobbing Double Case (Printers Register 1875) | 24 | 29 | 35 | 1:4 |
Jobbing Double Case (M&R 1895) | 21 | 25 | 35 | 4:1 |
Jobbing Double Case (M&R 1920s) | 21 | 25 | 35 | 1:3:1 |
New Double Case (Caslon 1925)* | 35 | 37 | 16 | 2:3 |
*This case has the upper bay on the left | ||||
Improved Double Case (Whetton 1946) | 24 | 29 | 35 | 1:3:1 |
Four rows for "Upper" | ||||
Double Double Case (M&R 1897) | 81 | 81 | 4 | |
Registered Double No.1 case (Ullmer 1902) | 81 | 81 | 4 | |
Three rows for "Upper" | ||||
Double Double Case (Caslon 1925) | 75 | 75 | 3 | |
And see Job Cases for the other style of double case. |
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Notes about Job and Double Cases | Notes about Upper cases | Notes about Lower cases | Alembic home page |