Linotype Machine

The Linotype machine uses a 90-character keyboard to create an entire line of metal type at once. That's how it got its name: 'line o' type'. This allowed much faster typesetting and composition than the original hand method with the Gutenberg-style system of letter, punctuation mark or space at a time. This machine revolutionized newspaper publishing and made it possible for a small number of operators to set type for many pages on a daily basis.

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News & Politics

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• newspaper
• newsprint
• publish
• daily
• paper
• Rollag
• Pioneer
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[oldengine1]

Ottmar Mergenthaler (May 11, 1854 October 28, 1899) was a German inventor, who has been called a second Gutenberg because his invention of a machine that could easily and quickly set movable type. This machine revolutionized the art of printing. Prior to Mergenthaler's invention of the linotype in 1884, no newspaper in the world had more than eight pages.

[toresbe]

Beautiful video. Thanks for uploading it! What a *fascinating* technology.

[NettieM5]

My dad also worked all his life with these machines and used to come home with little bits of melted lead on his clothes sometimes! He lived to 84. Just hearing the lingo of linotype brings back the best childhood memories for me!

[dontheshark]

I was an operator for over 30 years. We got phased out in 1980 by computers. I learned to do page make-up on the computer, but it never felt the same. I'm now going on 75.

[delcee715]

I have posted before that I operated linotypes for 17 years, last about my age of 39, now 82.

Fascinatingt o me tday how the words and expressions of young people have changed. They often use the word "like" to answer or awsum" to describe something. But worse how often

the F word is used. I know it will not go over well, but as an oldie itappears as a moral

decay of the nation and world. Today it is a "form" of Godliness, but denying the power

thereof. Offered as just food for thought.

[bbfunhk]

my dad work in hongkong gov for over 30 or 40yrs

i dont know how he do it

also not sure if he do in chinese too

but suspect lead poison due to that abit

n got low salary

dead already now

tks video

[delcee715]

I operated the linotype for 17 yrs. which included for the Navy on Guam. Started

as a high school student and became a journeyman earning double the national

average in 1949 Don Crews, age 82.

[PistabachiCalifornia]

This brings back so many memories, setting the type, placing it in the chase and locking it in. We also had some older platen presses, one of my biggest fears was losing my concentration and having my hand crushed by the type. We were still using these to print wedding invitations and other formal printing. I was always fascinated by how it worked, pure genius.

[cen756]

My dad owned a print shop for years. I can remember melting the old type down and pouring it into molds to reuse it. It was my favorite job in the shop. An early form of recycling.

[billdadd]

I was a Linotype operator for 40 years and worked a 6 SM, a 50 SM, a Model 4 Pillar, a conventional Model 4, a Linotype 48, 78 and 79 and an Intertype C6, all in Cardiff, South Wales, UK.

[zambot3]

Printer's Devil

[Biscuitom]

There are 5 or 6 line o type in Washington DC. THe are in the Museum of modern inventions.

M. Morgenthaler

[kgbsscups]

Do you know anyone interested in buying a machine. I have a model 31. I believe it was built in the 1930's. I may be wrong. I have pictures if you would like to see. I am in St. Louis, MO.