Mergenthaler Linotype Company
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1886 |
| Defunct | 2023 |
| Headquarters | New York |
| Products | Linotype machine |
The Mergenthaler Linotype Company was established in 1886 in the United States to commercialize the Linotype machine, a linecasting technology created by Ottmar Mergenthaler. It emerged as the leading global supplier of typesetting machinery for books and newspapers, with its principal rival outside North America being the Anglo-American Monotype Corporation.
Starting in 1960, the firm diversified into phototypesetting, introducing laser typesetters, typeface collections, scanners, and typesetting computer systems. In 1987, it merged with German Linotype-Hell AG and became known as Linotype Co. within the US market. Linotype-Hell AG was later acquired by German printing equipment manufacturer Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG in 1996. To manage digital font assets, Linotype Library GmbH was formed and subsequently renamed Linotype GmbH in 2005.
Monotype Imaging Holdings, Inc. acquired Linotype GmbH in 2007, consolidating significant industry resources under one umbrella. In August 2023, Monotype declared the shutdown of Linotype.com, marking the end of the company’s operational presence.
Founding
Ottmar Mergenthaler founded the company to address the slow process of manual typesetting by inventing a machine capable of casting entire lines of type from molten metal. Operators would input text lines via a keyboard; these lines were formed from assembled matrices containing molds that were cast in hot lead alloy. After casting, the matrices were automatically returned to their designated storage locations through a specialized keying mechanism, which optimized workflow efficiency and minimized type wear.
His invention also featured an advanced justification mechanism employing patented "space bands"—pairs of interconnected metal wedges—that adjusted interword spacing to achieve perfectly aligned margins on both sides of columns. This mechanized approach replaced manual spacing adjustments and significantly improved print consistency.
History
The development of the first functional Linotype machine involved several organizations and key contributors. In 1877, the National Printing Company was established in Washington, D.C., with Lewis Clephane serving as president. Following a successful trial of the Linotype in 1885, capital was raised through the creation of the Mergenthaler Printing Company. By 1895, The Mergenthaler Linotype Company was officially incorporated in New York with initial capital of $5 million and stock valued at $10 million from 333 investors. Philip Tell Dodge was appointed as its inaugural president until 1928 when his son Norman Dodge succeeded him.
In 1889, The Linotype Company was founded in Britain by publisher Joseph Lawrence, establishing a manufacturing plant in Broadheath, Altrincham by 1899. This British entity merged with Machinery Trust in 1903 to form Linotype & Machinery Ltd.
Throughout the twentieth century, Mergenthaler Linotype maintained dominance within the printing sector. Its machines were engineered so robustly that critical components remained largely unchanged for nearly a century. A notable accomplishment was the development of the Linotype Legibility Group typefaces, which gained widespread adoption among Latin-script newspapers worldwide. The system’s durability and ability to cast entire lines as solid blocks reinforced its strong market position.
The company later joined forces with K. S. Paul’s enterprise to create Linotype-Paul Ltd., which developed Linotron phototypesetters based on cathode ray tube technology.
Following World War II, printing technology transitioned first to phototypesetting before moving toward digital formats. During the 1950s, Linotype acquired Davidson Corporation—a manufacturer of small offset presses—which was eventually sold to American Type Founders under the ATF-Davidson brand.
Through various mergers and restructurings, Mergenthaler Linotype became part of Germany’s Linotype-Hell AG. In April 1997, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG purchased Linotype-Hell AG. Subsequent corporate spin-offs included Linotype Library GmbH (located in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe), which specialized in digital fonts and software—separating font software operations from traditional typesetting equipment retained by Heidelberg.
In 2005, Linotype Library GmbH rebranded itself as Linotype GmbH. Two years later, Monotype Imaging Holdings acquired this entity, broadening Monotype’s global reach and product offerings.
By August 2023, Monotype announced it would close down the Linotype e-commerce site along with FontShop and Fonts.com to concentrate efforts on MyFonts. The company pledged to honor Linotype’s heritage through online materials that document its historic significance and business evolution.
Typefaces
The Linotype font collection includes legendary type designs crafted by prominent 20th-century typographers, such as Palatino and Optima created by Hermann Zapf, as well as Frutiger, Avenir, and Univers designed by Adrian Frutiger. Additionally, the classic Helvetica was developed by Max Miedinger in collaboration with Eduard Hoffman. Linotype GmbH consistently introduces fresh typefaces from both seasoned and rising designers. The firm also produced FontExplorer X for Mac OS X, a font management application that allows users to explore and acquire fonts directly within the software—an innovative approach comparable to the business model of iTunes and the iTunes Store.
Among Linotype's notable contributions is the Arabic typeface Simplified Arabic, which was later renamed Yakout in honor of the 13th-century calligrapher Yaqut al-Musta'simi. Released in 1956, this font remains extensively utilized in publications such as books and newspapers, demonstrating Linotype’s significant presence across varied linguistic markets.
See also
Sources
Further reading
- Manfred Raether: „Linotype – Chronik eines Firmennamens“; E-Book, self-published, Schöneck 2009
- Basil Kahan: Ottmar Mergenthaler – The Man and his Machine; Oak Knoll Press, New Castle (DE), 2000 –
- 1919 new model machine, acquired by the Abbeville Herald (Alabama) for .
External links
- Linotype – Chronik eines Firmennamens: e-book detailing Linotype’s history from 1886 onward
- Typophile: Article on Linotype
- Metal Type – Dedicated to Hot Metal Typesetting Enthusiasts
- Linotypesetting – Hot Metal Typesetting Resources for Hobbyists and Professionals
- The Linotype & Machinery Co. Ltd – Information on the UK company from the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester)
- Chauncey Hawley Griffith archival materials at University of Kentucky (Former VP for Typographic Development at Mergenthaler)