Binny & Ronaldson
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Type foundry |
| Founded | 1796 in Philadelphia, United States |
| Founder | Archibald Binny, James Ronaldson |
| Defunct | 1892 |
| Fate | Merged into American Type Founders’ Company |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia , United States |
| Products | Typefaces, printing types |
Binny & Ronaldson holds the distinction of being the inaugural enduring type foundry founded in the United States, established in 1796 in Philadelphia by Scottish-born entrepreneurs Archibald Binny (1762/3–1838) and James Ronaldson (1769–1841).
History
Archibald Binny arrived in Philadelphia from Scotland in 1795, bringing with him expertise in both printing and type founding. Teaming up with James Ronaldson, who had previously been a baker but lost his establishment due to a fire, they inaugurated the foundry in 1796 under the title Binny and Ronaldson, also known as The Philadelphia Type Foundry. For a considerable period, it remained the sole type foundry operating within the United States and garnered notable prominence.
In 1806, the company procured equipment initially bought by Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Simon Fournier. The foundry produced the first American type specimen book in 1812. Archibald Binny developed a spring lever mechanism to enhance the efficiency of type casting and secured patents for advancements such as an improved printer’s mold along with techniques for refining types.
Upon Binny’s retirement in 1815, he sold his stake to Ronaldson, who managed the enterprise until 1823 before transferring control to his brother Richard Ronaldson. The foundry was acquired in 1833 by Lawrence Johnson and George F. Smith, who merged it with Johnson’s stereotype foundry and significantly expanded its scale. Johnson and Smith directed operations together for ten years until Smith retired in 1843.
Following Johnson’s death in 1860, the business retained his name until 1845 when three junior partners—Thomas MacKellar, John F. Smith, and Richard Smith—became involved. The company continued as L. Johnson & Company until 1897, when Peter A. Jordan joined as a partner, leading to a renaming as MacKellar, Smiths and Jordan. Ultimately, the firm was integrated into the American Type Founders’ Company in 1892.
By foundry
By others
- Typophile article
- The History of a Typeface
- One hundred years: MacKellar, Smiths and Jordan Foundry, 1796-1896, Philadelphia, Pa., Digital Library @ Villanova University