Tartu centre restores Estonia’s only known lead type machine

A machine for casting lead type has been restored after a lengthy repair at TYPA, Tartu’s printing and paper art centre, ERR reported. It is believed to be the only known historical machine of its kind in Estonia.

Lead type was still used to print books in Estonia around 30 years ago. The restored monotype machine is now used by artists and the museum for their projects.

TYPA master Jörgen Loot said the machine was one of the most important in printing history and had been widely used around the world. It casts letters according to a design prepared in advance, a process developed before computers were available.

Loot said preserving the machine was important so that people could see how printing was once done.