You might need those for something but typography is completely different now than when we worked in the business.
I actually have some lead type. Not too many people have seen that in person.
You gots FReepmail....
Our instructor had lead type, and some lead rules. I love looking at old books - one can see where the lead type struck the paper.
The instructor, worked as a type setter using a Linotype machine. They are still in use today, but as you said, type setting is done on differently today.
There may be many things I don’t know about as it has been many years that I have kept up with new methods.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linotype_machine