diff --git a/Lib/fontParts/base/type.py b/Lib/fontParts/base/type.py
deleted file mode 100644
index ddc0706d..00000000
--- a/Lib/fontParts/base/type.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-from typing import Dict, Generic, Iterator, List, Set, Tuple, TypeVar, Union
-
-from fontParts.base.info import BaseInfo
-from fontParts.base.groups import BaseGroups
-from fontParts.base.kerning import BaseKerning
-from fontParts.base.features import BaseFeatures
-from fontParts.base.lib import BaseLib
-from fontParts.base.layer import BaseLayer
-from fontParts.base.glyph import BaseGlyph
-from fontParts.base.guideline import BaseGuideline
-
-IntFloat = Union[int, float]
-Color = Tuple[(IntFloat,) * 4]
-Coordinate = Tuple[IntFloat, IntFloat]
-TransformationMatrix = Tuple[(IntFloat,) * 6]
-FontType = TypeVar('FontType', bound='BaseFont')
-InfoType = TypeVar('InfoType', bound='BaseInfo')
-GroupsType = TypeVar('GroupsType', bound='BaseGroups')
-KerningType = TypeVar('KerningType', bound='BaseKerning')
-FeaturesType = TypeVar('FeaturesType', bound='BaseFeatures')
-LibType = TypeVar('LibType', bound='BaseLib')
-LayerType = TypeVar('LayerType', bound='BaseLayer')
-GlyphType = TypeVar('GlyphType', bound='BaseGlyph')
-GuidelineType = TypeVar('GuidelineType', bound='BaseGuideline')
-KerningKey = Tuple[str, str]
-KerningDict = Dict[KerningKey, IntFloat]
-ReverseComponentMapping = Dict[str, Set[str]]
-CharacterMapping = Dict[int, List[str]]
diff --git a/Lib/fontParts/base/types.py b/Lib/fontParts/base/types.py
index e69de29b..4927dcc3 100644
--- a/Lib/fontParts/base/types.py
+++ b/Lib/fontParts/base/types.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+from typing import Dict, Generic, Iterator, List, Set, Tuple, TypeVar, Union
+
+try:
+    from fontParts.base.info import BaseInfo
+    from fontParts.base.groups import BaseGroups
+    from fontParts.base.kerning import BaseKerning
+    from fontParts.base.features import BaseFeatures
+    from fontParts.base.lib import BaseLib
+    from fontParts.base.layer import BaseLayer
+    from fontParts.base.glyph import BaseGlyph
+    from fontParts.base.guideline import BaseGuideline
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
+IntFloat = Union[int, float]
+ColorType = Tuple[(IntFloat,) * 4]
+CoordinateType = Tuple[IntFloat, IntFloat]
+FactorType = Union[float, Tuple[float, float]]
+TransformationMatrixType = Tuple[(IntFloat,) * 6]
+FontType = TypeVar('FontType', bound='BaseFont')
+InfoType = TypeVar('InfoType', bound='BaseInfo')
+GroupsType = TypeVar('GroupsType', bound='BaseGroups')
+KerningType = TypeVar('KerningType', bound='BaseKerning')
+FeaturesType = TypeVar('FeaturesType', bound='BaseFeatures')
+LibType = TypeVar('LibType', bound='BaseLib')
+LayerType = TypeVar('LayerType', bound='BaseLayer')
+GlyphType = TypeVar('GlyphType', bound='BaseGlyph')
+GuidelineType = TypeVar('GuidelineType', bound='BaseGuideline')
+KerningKey = Tuple[str, str]
+KerningDict = Dict[KerningKey, IntFloat]
+ReverseComponentMapping = Dict[str, Set[str]]
+CharacterMapping = Dict[int, List[str]]