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Taking a Look at the Linotype Machine

Better Essays

In 1885 the printing of information would change dramatically upon the invention of the Linotype machine. Ottmar Mergenthaler’s invention fostered a thriving print culture in American history. This machine increased the production of printing with the advanced procedure known as line casting. This allowed text to be printed one line at a time, instead of printing one typeset at a time. This complex yet innovative machine allowed companies such as newspapers to educate the masses in a rapid manner. By the twentieth century, many countries were using the new typesetting machine to educate its own people in a fast and coast efficient manner.
The Linotype machine was invented by Ottmar Mergenthaler. Mergenthaler was a German watchmaker who migrated to America in early 1870’s. While Mergenthaler was still in his twenties he moved to Baltimore where he began to work on machines that were used in print production. These machines were structured to preform typewriting and lithography functions. Mergenthaler began to envision a machine that could produce multiple castings of type. During this period there were many inventors working on typesetting innovations. Ottmar not only wanted his machine to produce cast type, but he wanted it to produce type in lines of text at the same time. He also wanted the machine to stamp out matrices and cast the metal as well. To accomplish his goal, Mergenthaler went through a lot of trial and error. By 1885 the Linotype machine was a success.

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