Tagged: Linotype

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Linotype is a historic name in typesetting and printing, originating from the invention of the Linotype machine by Ottmar Mergenthaler in the 1880s. The machine revolutionized printing by allowing entire lines of type to be cast at once, dramatically increasing efficiency compared to setting individual characters by hand. It was widely adopted for newspapers, books, and advertising, becoming a cornerstone of 20th-century publishing. By the early 1900s, thousands of Linotype machines were in use worldwide, and their influence extended into journalism and beyond, with operators often revered for their skill.

The Linotype machine worked using a system of matrices and molten metal to produce lines of type (“line o’ type”). It was celebrated for its reliability and adaptability and dominated typesetting until advances in photocomposition and digital technologies rendered it obsolete in the latter half of the 20th century. Today, Linotype GmbH, a successor company, is a prominent digital type foundry owned by Monotype, responsible for iconic typefaces like Helvetica and Univers. The legacy of Linotype reflects a pivotal shift in the history of printing and typesetting technologies​