Linotype typesetting machine, 1889
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Linotype typesetting machine, 1889
Linotype typesetting machine. 19th-century artwork showing a printer operating a newly invented typesetting machine called the linotype. The name arose because it allowed the production of an entire line of type (line o type) in one action. This greatly speeded printing production. Invented in the 1880s by the German-born US inventor Ottmar Mergenthaler (1854-1899), it was first used in 1884 in the offices of the New York Tribune, and became an industry standard until the development of offset lithography. Artwork from the 4th volume (second period of 1889) of the French popular science weekly La Science Illustree
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9200313
© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1880s 1889 Annual Volume Device French Invention La Science Illustree Louis Figuier Magazine New York North American Popular Science Printer Printing Printing Press Publisher Publishing Weekly Worker Linotype New York Tribune Typesetter Typesetting
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a pivotal moment in the history of printing technology. Taken in 1889, it showcases an innovative linotype typesetting machine being operated by a skilled printer. The linotype machine revolutionized the industry by enabling the production of entire lines of type with just one action, hence its name - line o type. Invented by Ottmar Mergenthaler, a German-born inventor who later became a naturalized US citizen, this groundbreaking device was first utilized in 1884 at the New York Tribune offices. Its introduction marked a significant leap forward in printing production speed and efficiency. For years, it served as an industry standard until offset lithography emerged as a new method. The artwork featured here is from La Science Illustree, a popular French science weekly published during that era. It beautifully illustrates both the technological marvel of the linotype machine and its impact on publishing history. As we gaze upon this image, we are transported back to an era when human ingenuity merged seamlessly with advancements in technology. It serves as a reminder of how far we have come since then and pays homage to those visionaries like Mergenthaler who paved the way for modern printing methods.
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