linotype

Linotype is a linecasting hot metal typesetting system that was widely used in printing in the late 19th and 20th centuries. It was developed by Ottmar Mergenthaler and introduced in 1884, with the Mergenthaler Linotype Company becoming a dominant supplier of the machine. The Linotype revolutionized printing by enabling a complete line of type to be produced in a single casting, rather than assembling individual type pieces by hand.

The machine operates by keyboard input. Each keystroke selects a matrix representing a character from a type magazine. Matrices are assembled into a justifying line by a distributor mechanism, which sorts and returns used matrices to their cases for reuse. When a line is complete, the caster melts metal and casts a single straight slug containing the entire line of type. The slug then passes to the printer, the matrices are re-shelved, and the caster is ready to form the next line. The typical alloy used for casting was a lead-based mix, chosen for its properties in printing.

Impact and decline: Linotype greatly accelerated typesetting, especially for newspapers and books, by drastically reducing manual composition time and standardizing type production. It facilitated rapid page layout and the handling of long lines of text. Beginning in the mid-20th century, gradual adoption of phototypesetting and, later, digital typesetting reduced the demand for hot metal linecasting. By the late 20th century, Linotype machines had largely been retired from mainstream printing, though they remain a symbol of early modern printing.

Legacy: Linotype is regarded as a landmark in the history of publishing, illustrating the shift from manual to automated, high-volume production of printed material.