M & H Type
Mackenzie & Harris
The oldest and largest letterpress type foundry in the U.S.
Dating from the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition.
Click below to find out more about our Centennial.
Celebrate a century of continuous operation by the nation’s oldest and largest typefoundry, M&H (Mackenzie & Harris). Designated an “irreplaceable cultural treasure” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Mackenzie & Harris was established with demonstration Monotype machines from the Panama Pacific International Exposition’s Palace of Machinery. These have been preserved as part of the historic foundry, still in operation on a full-time basis, where handset and composition “hot metal” type is manufactured for the Arion Press and other letterpress customers.
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Hot metal is still hot in San Francisco! The venerable firm of Mackenzie & Harris, established in 1915, is the oldest and largest type foundry for letterpress printers in the United States. Also known as M & H Type, it offers for sale an extensive selection of fonts of type for hand composition and keeps current with printing technology by providing digital typography as well as traditional lead typecasting and Monotype composition. M & H Type is associated with Arion Press, fine printers and publishers of deluxe limited-edition books, and the Grabhorn Institute, which sponsors tours and educational and apprenticeship opportunities. All share the premises of a handsome1928 industrial building in the Presidio national park of San Francisco. |
SPECIAL OFFER
Save 25% with Starter Set Font Specials
For a limited time, you can order a set of 12 and 18 pt. "Starter Set" fonts of selected popular typefaces, and save 25% off the regular prices. These are perfect for printers just getting started with letterpress, as well as for those wanting to add a new type style to their shops. Order online now.
Save 15% on featured Handy Fonts: @@@!
Need some @ symbols to set all those email addresses? M & H Type offers a choice of three Handy Fonts with a variety of sizes and a choice of Roman or Sans Serif styles. For a limited time, save 15%. Order online now.
PUBLIC TOURS OF THE FOUNDRY
Thursdays at 3:30 and by appointment. Read more.
M & H TYPE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Training in both the typefoundry (casting) and pressroom (typography and letterpress printing). Candidates must be interested in doing both. Applicants should send a letter and CV by post.
M & H Type, the oldest and largest surviving type foundry in the United States, offers paid apprenticeships for intensive work and training in typography, typecasting, and Monotype composition that will lead to long-term employment. Commitment is for a minimum four years of employment: two years in apprentice status, followed by at least two years in journeyman status.
Training is conducted by master type caster Lewis Mitchell, who has been employed by M & H Type for 61 years and is the most knowledgeable person in this country on the Monotype system. Apprentices also receive training in other aspects of printing and book making, including computer-generated typography, photopolymer platemaking, hand composition, and operation of letterpress equipment. Read more.
Public Tours
Read more about the tours of the working foundry.
Kenny Howard interview
Hear an interview of Kenny Howard from
M & H Type talking about his work on film titles and typecasting. Includes numerous photos of the typefoundry and the Arion pressroom. View now.
New Type Catalogue!
Now available: Download a PDF facsimile of the M & H Type catalog! Includes specimens of hundreds of typefaces and countless ornaments. Download PDF (3.6 MB).
Video Tour
See M & H Type featured in a PBS-TV segment on Arion Press. View now.
Email News List
Join our email news list to receive notices of news public events at M & H Type and Arion Press. Join now.
Monotype Video
See a short (noisy!) video of the Monotype caster in operation. View now.