Many experimented with innovations to increase the speed of typesetting through automatization. Otto Mergenthaler succeeded in 1886 with a machine that did set a 'line of type', hence the name 'Linotype'. The company producing those machines grew out to be one of the most successful producers of typecasting machines. During the years, the Mergenthaler Linotype Company built several models. An overview is found below.
The blower-Linotype was the first version of a typecaster, which would later evolve into the linotype. It did use separate matrices and air was used to blow these into the assembling elevator. This machine was first used in the printing house of the New-York Tribune in July 1886.
Model 1 is a machine with one distributor. This model is in later literature often wrongly referred to as the 'simplex', but the simplex was a German machine (Macmillan & Krandal, 2013).
Model 2 is a machine with two magazines and two distributors.
Model 3 is a machine with one magazine and one distributor, as an improvement of model 1.
Model 4 is a machine with two magazines and two distributors, as an improvement of model 2.
Model 5 is a machine with one magazine and one distributor, as an improvement of model 3.
Model 6 is identical to model 4, but is constructed in such a way that longer lines could be cast (The Dutch Literature mentions 'a length of 34 augustijn').
Model 7 is identical to model 5 but also like model 7 constructed is in such a way that longer lines could be cast (The Dutch Literature mentions 'a length of 34 augustijn').
Model 8 is a machine with three magazines and one distributor. It could be purchased as a one-magazine machine and extended later on.
Model 9 is a machine with four magazines and four distributors.
Model 10 has shorter magazines, which could only contain up to 15 matrices per channel.
Model K is a machine with two magazines and one distributor.
Model 11 is identical to model 8, but is constructed in such a way that longer lines could be cast (The Dutch Literature mentions 'a length of 34 augustijn').
Model 12 is identical to model 9, but is constructed in such a way that longer lines could be cast (The Dutch Literature mentions 'a length of 34 augustijn').
Model 14 is identical to model 8, but is equipped with a side magazine.
This model is identical to model 14, but is constructed in such a way that longer lines could be cast (The Dutch Literature mentions 'a length of 34 augustijn').
Model 15 is an improvement to model 10.
Model 16 is a machine with two magazines and two distributors
Model 17 is identical to model 16, but is equipped with a side magazine.
Model 18 is a machine with two magazines and one distributor.
Model 19 is identical to model 18, but is equipped with a side magazine.
Model 20 has a maximum of three magazines and one distributor. The magazines contain only 72 channels for larger type sizes (they still have the same width as regular magazines) and the keyboard has only 72 keys. This machine is aimed at the advertising industry.
Model 21 is identical to model 20, but can contain extra large type sizes. In this case, only 55 channels of the magazine will be used. When this is needed, 17 of the keys can be disabled and the assembler entrances with the magazine can be replaced.
Model 22 is identical to model 21, but is equipped with a side magazine with 28 channels. This magazine is operated with a separate keyboard. In later models, side magazines will be operated by the main keyboard.
Model 24 is identical to model 9, but is equipped with two side magazines.
Model 25 is a machine with two magazines and two distributors.
Model 26 is identical to model 25, but is equipped with two side magazines with 34 channels. There is no second keyboard.
Model 27 has a maximum of three magazines and one distributor. The magazines contain only 72 channels for larger type sizes and the keyboard has only 72 keys. This machine is aimed at the advertising industry.
Model 28 is identical to model 27, but is equipped with three side magazines.
The Two-in-One-Linotype (Single Distribution) has three main magazines and one distributor. One or two of the main magazines could have 72 channels for larger type sizes. The machine has two assembler entrances with the magazines and two different distribution bars: one for the 92 channel-magazine and one for the 72 channel-magazine. Both the distribution bar and the assembler entrance were put in place by a lever on the right side of the machine.
The Two-in-One-Linotype (Continuous Distribution) has two magazines and two distributors. One of the main magazines has 72 channels. The machine is equipped with two side magazines.
This All-Purpose-Linotype has little in common with the other Linotypes. Matrices with a type size from 5 till 144 point are inserted by hand. This made the machine suitable for large headings, advertising and ornaments.
Model 29 has four magazines and two distributors. From model 29 on, all moving parts are covered, which is named 'Blue Streak'.
Model 30 is identical to model 29, but is equipped with four side magazines.
Model 31 has four magazines and one distributor. The magazines can contain 90 or 72 channels.
Model 32 is identical to model 31, but is equipped with four side magazines.
Model 33 has four magazines and one distributor. The magazines only have 72 channels and are 35% wider than the default magazines. This makes them suitable for matrices up to a type size of 36 point. The keyboard only has 72 keys, the mold disk has six molds, and the machine is equipped with an automatic cooling installation (named Thermo-Blo).
Model 33 has four extra large magazines with 90 or 72 channels. Even in the 90 channel-magazines, a type size up to 24 point would fit. Despite that the magazines could be limited to 72 point, the keyboard had 90 keys.
Model 34 resembles model 33 (Two-in-One) with four side magazines but also has an improved assemblage, ensuring that matrices from the side magazines are transported with a larger speed. This model is equipped with a separate keyboard for the side magazines.
Model 35 is a machine with two magazines and two distributors. The magazines are extra large and could have 90 or 72 channels.
Model 36 is identical to model 35, but is equipped with four side magazines. This model is equipped with a separate keyboard for the side magazines.
The Linotype Junior has little to do with the Linotype—except that it was made by the same company. It resembled the Typograph and which was a half-priced model of the regular Linotype. The Linotype Junior was discontinued by the end of World War I, and most existing models ware traded in for another Linotype (Printing museum, n.d.).
c 2022 Maarten Renckens. All rights reserved.