Ottmar Mergenthaler, German-US typesetter
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Ottmar Mergenthaler, German-US typesetter
Ottmar Mergenthaler (1854-1899), German-US typesetter. Mergenthaler is best known as the inventor of the Linotype, the first fully-automated typesetting machine. Mergenthaler worked in a scientific instrument shop and, in 1886, after several other designs, created a machine that allowed an operator to automatically set metal type. The machine was called the Linotype because it cast an entire line of type at one time. This revolutionised the printing industry as it greatly reduced the time spent on typesetting, and became the dominant method in newspaper printing until the 1960s
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Media ID 6415125
© HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES LIBRARY/NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Automatic Engineer Engineering Fifties Forties German German American Inventor Nineteenth Century Pioneer Portraits Printer Printing Publishing Revolutionary Sepia Surname M Linotype Mono Chrome Ottmar Revolutionised Typesetter Typesetting
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases Ottmar Mergenthaler, a pioneering German-US typesetter who forever changed the printing industry. Born in 1854, Mergenthaler is best known as the brilliant mind behind the invention of the Linotype, a groundbreaking fully-automated typesetting machine. Before his revolutionary creation, typesetting was an arduous and time-consuming task. However, in 1886, after numerous iterations and designs, Mergenthaler successfully crafted a machine that allowed operators to automatically set metal type. Aptly named the Linotype because it cast an entire line of type at once, this innovation transformed the field of printing. The impact of Mergenthaler's invention cannot be overstated. The Linotype significantly reduced the time spent on typesetting and quickly became the dominant method in newspaper printing until well into the 1960s. Its introduction revolutionized not only technology but also publishing practices. In this sepia-toned portrait captured during the late nineteenth century, Ottmar Mergenthaler stands tall as a symbol of ingenuity and engineering prowess. His contribution to society as an inventor and engineer has left an indelible mark on history. This remarkable photograph from The New York Public Library's Photography Collection serves as a testament to Mergenthaler's genius and enduring legacy within both American and German industries. It immortalizes him as one of history's most influential figures in technological advancements—a true visionary whose work continues to shape our world today.
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