On a disk, different characters have different pitches…typically fonts aren’t monospace. Because the system is entirely mechanical, kerning is as good as the t

On a disk, different characters have different pitches…typically fonts aren’t monospace. Because the system is entirely mechanical, kerning is as good as the typesetter makes it. Or as bad. The business use was camera ready art where appropriate lighting would disappear paste-up artifacts. So you could get anything you wanted with a straitedge, #11 blade, good light, time and experience. But for many uses, the quality of the typefaces was enough without kerning…I mean drawing letters by hand was and is the most expressive way to realize a unique creative vision. Using a machine means accepting a good-enough.