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Arthur Bleich, Andrew Boag, Dave Farey, Allan Haley, John H. Lienhard, Linotype GmbH, Pentagram
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Linotype Library: A company with a (very) long tradition.
By: Mark Solsburg
The day Ottmar Mergenthaler demonstrated the first hot-metal linecasting machine to the New York Tribune in 1886, Whitelaw Reid, the editor-in-chief, was delighted: “Ottmar”, he said, “you´ve cast a line of type!”
The editor´s words formed the basis for the company label, and marked the beginning of Linotype´s success story. Four years later, the ingenious inventor of the type setting machine founded the Mergenthaler Linotype Company in the United States and its counterpart in the United Kingdom in 1895.
Quickly adopted by major newspapers around the world, the “Line-o-type” as it was now coined, provided a new freedom in the creation of everything printed from newspapers to books, from advertisements to a wide range of literature. Little did Ottmar know that after more than a century of successful business, the Linotype Library, now a subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, would become one of the most important and respected resources for fonts in the world.
Since May 1st 1997 Linotype Library - as a division of the Heidelberg Group - is a legally independant company with more than 110 years of heritage. Famous names like Linotype-Hell AG, D. Stempel AG, Haas´sche SchriftgieBerei and Deberny & Peignot are the roots of Linotype Library.
Today, Linotype Library has one of the industry´s largest font libraries, offering more than 4,000 high-quality typefaces. All of which can be ordered and delivered online from DsgnHaus.
Linotype history timeline:
1886 - Ottmar Mergenthaler (born in Württemberg, Germany on May 11th, 1854) produces the world´s first linecasting machine in the USA. The machine is called “Blower”, later it is renamed “Linotype” (short for “Line of type”).
1889 - The Linotype casting machine is awarded a “Grand Prix” at the World Expo in Paris. Square base Linotype of 1889. (Photo: St. Bride Printing Library)
1890 - Mergenthaler Linotype Company is founded in Brooklyn, USA. Mergenthaler Linotype & Machinery Ltd. is founded in Manchester, England.
1892 - The 1000th Linotype casting machine is produced in the USA. The Rudhard'sche Foundry in Offenbach is purchased by Karl Klingspor.
1894 - In Amsterdam, the first Linotype casting machine in Europe is used for newspaper setting.
1895 - D. Stempel foundry established.
1896 - Mergenthaler Casting Machines founded in Berlin, Germany.
1898 - The first Linotype casting machine in France is used for newspaper setting in Paris. The Juxberg-Rust type foundry in Offenbach is purchased by D. Stempel.
1899 - Ottmar Mergenthaler dies at the age of 45 in Baltimore, USA.
1900 - Type matrixes produced for Linotype casting machines by D. Stempel. Mergenthaler Casting Machines in Berlin and D. Stempel in Frankfurt sign a contract to produce typefaces for Linotype. The first Linotype typefaces created by D. Stempel were Kolonel Fraktur No.5, Petit Fraktur No.5, and Kolonel Double-Letter Fraktur (“Fraktur” = German Gothic typeface).
1904 - Worldwide there are 10 000 Linotype casting machines in use. The sons of Karl Klingspor, Karl and Wilhelm, become sole owners of the Rudhard´sche Foundry in Offenbach.
1906 - The Rudhard´sche Foundry (established in 1842) is renamed Klingspor Bros. 1911 - For the first time, Arabic text is set using a Linotype machine.
1915 - D. Stempel takes over the type foundry Roos & Junge, Offenbach (established in 1886).
1917 - D. Stempel acquires a majority share of the type foundry Klingspor Bros., Offenbach.
1918 - D. Stempel takes over the type foundry Heinrich Hoffmeister, Leipzig (established in 1898).
1919 - D. Stempel takes over the type division of W. Drugulin, Leipzig (established in 1800). D. Stempel acquires a share of the type foundry Br?z & Glock, Frankfurt (established in 1892).
1924 - Following the company merger of Girard & Co. and Peignot, the type foundry Deberny & Peignot is established.
1925 - Linotype introduces “Ionic” as a typeface designed for newspaper typesetting. This new design inspires the development of a range of new typefaces, which come to be known as the “Legibility Group.”
1927 - D. Stempel acquires a shareholding in the Haas´sche type foundry in Basel/Münchenstein (established in 1790).
1933 - D. Stempel acquires a shareholding in the type foundry Benjamin Krebs (Successors), Frankfurt (established in 1816). The typeface collection of Benjamin Krebs
1935 - Use of the first Linotype casting machine with perforated tape entry
1948 - Linotype GmbH of Berlin opens a branch office in Frankfurt which soon becomes the company headquarters.
1949 - Production of the Linotype casting machine is resumed, after interruption due to the war.
1950 - The periodical “Linotype Post” is published (through 1963).
1954 - In the centennial year of Ottmar Mergenthaler´s birth there are over 100 000 Linotype casting machines in use.
1956 - D. Stempel AG acquires full ownership of the type foundry Klingspor Bros., Offenbach (established in 1906). The foundry division is closed; parts of the foundry activities are maintained. Typeface collection of Klingspor Bros.
1958 - Introduction of the world´s first integrated photo typesetting system with perforated tape entry, the “Linofilm System.”
1962 - Introduction of the “Lino Quick Perforator,” an electronic tape perforator.
1956 - D. Stempel AG acquires full ownership of the type foundry Klingspor Bros., Offenbach (established in 1906). The foundry division is closed; parts of the foundry activities are maintained. The typeface collection of Klingspor Bros.
1963 - Linotype takes over the type foundry Genzsch + Heyne, Hamburg (established 1833). The typeface collection of Genzsch + Heyse.
1966 - Introduction of the “Lino Quick Setter,” a photo typesetting machine from Linotype capable ofsetting 24000 characters per hour.
1967 - The “Linotron 1010,” the result of a joint venture between Linotype and CBS, is installed at the U.S. Government Printing Office.
1968 - D. Stempel AG begins producing typefaces for photo typesetting. (???)
1969 - Linotype introduces the “Linotron 505,” a cathode ray typesetting machine.
1970 - Following the collapse of the type foundry C. E. Weber, Stuttgart (established in 1827), a part of the typeface collection is taken over by D. Stempel AG. The typeface collection of C. E. Weber.
1972 - The Federation of Type Foundries and the Type Foundry Employer´s Association in Frankfurt are dissolved. The Haas´sche type foundry in Basel/Münchenstein takes over the type foundry Deberny & Peignot, Paris. The typeface collection of Deberny & Peignot.
1963 - Linotype takes over the type foundry Genzsch + Heyne, Hamburg (established 1???). The typeface collection of Genzsch + Heyse
1970 - Following the collapse of the type foundry C. E. Weber, Stuttgart (established in 1827), the typeface collection is taken over by D. Stempel AG. The typeface collection of C. E. Weber
1972 - The Federation of Type Foundries and the Type Foundry Employer´s Association in Frankfurt are dissolved. The Haas´sche type foundry in Basel/Münchenstein takes over the type foundry Deberny & Peignot, Paris. The typeface collection of Deberny & Peignot
1973 - Merger of Mergenthaler Casting Machine GmbH and Linotype GmbH, becoming Mergenthaler-Linotype GmbH with headquarters in Frankfurt.
1974 - Introduction of the photo typesetting machine “Linocomp II” and the cathode ray typesetting machines "Linotron 303/TC" and “Linotron 505/TC” by Linotype. Linotype company headquarters move from Frankfurt to Eschborn.
1975 - Introduction of the first Linotronic photo typesetting system with screen display and floppy disk drive at the “Imprinta” in D?seldorf. End of hot-metal type systems, manufacture of the photo typesetting systems “Linotron” and “Linotronic”
1976 - Introduction of “Typomatic” photo typesetting machine by D. Stempel AG. Production of hot-metal type systems by Linotype ends after 90 years.
1978 - Introduction of the “Linotron 202,” offering digital typefaces stored as outline vectors. TheHaas'sche type foundry in Basel/Münchenstein takes over the type foundry Fonderie Olive, Marseille (established in 1836). The typeface collection of Fonderie Olive
1979 - The American mother company is taken over by Allied Chemical in Morristown, N. J.
1983 - Introduction of the “Linotronic 101” laser RIP by Linotype.
1984 - Introduction of the “Linotronic 300” laser RIP by Linotype.
1985 - Linotype takes over of the type division of D. Stempel AG. In connection with the liquidation of D. Stempel AG, their shareholding in the Haas´sche type foundry in Basel/Münchenstein is acquired by Linotype. Linotype, Adobe, ITC and Apple cooperate in typography and technology. The typeface collection of D. Stempel AG.
1986 - In the centennial year of Linotype typesetting machines the “Linotronic 500” is introduced, a laser RIP for the output of complete newspaper and magazine pages.
1987 - Linotype begins production of Postscript typefaces. The complete Linotype typeface library is licensed by Adobe. A German bank group acquires the Linotype concern from Allied Chemical and reorganizes it as a corporation: Linotype AG.
1988 - Introduction of the PC-based typesetting system “Series 2000” by Linotype. Linotronic 200 P, RIP for Postscript, is introduced.
1989 - Linotype takes over the Haas´sche type foundry (established in 1790). The foundry division is discontinued and sold to Fruttiger AG in Münchenstein, Switzerland. The typeface collection of the Haas´sche type foundry.
1989 - Linotype takes over the Haas´sche type foundry (established in 1790). The foundry division is discontinued and sold to Fruttiger AG in Münchenstein, Switzerland. The typeface collection of the Haas´sche type foundry
1990 - Linotype AG merges with Hell GmbH to become Linotype-Hell AG. The typeface collection of Linotype AG. The typeface collection of Hell GmbH.
1997 - Linotype Library GmbH is founded as a subsidiary company of the Heidelberg Group. Launch of the New Linotype Univers
1998 - Linotype Library moves to Bad Homburg. Launch of Linotype Zapfino.
1999 - The Jury of the 3rd International Type Design Contest met on December. Launch of Linotype Facts of Life and Linotype Syntax.
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The day Ottmar Mergenthaler demonstrated the first hot-metal linecasting machine to the New York Tribune in 1886, Whitelaw Reid, the editor-in-chief, was delighted: “Ottmar”, he said, “you´ve cast a line of type!” 
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