FIRST - Linotype- Ottmar Mergenthaler - Baltimore, MD
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 39° 18.367 W 076° 37.372
18S E 360076 N 4352003
Ottmar Mergenthaler, a German immigrant revolutionized the art of printing with his invention of the Linotype. He lived at 159 W Lanvale Street, Baltimore from 1894 to 1899. He died on October 28,1899.
Waymark Code: WM17CD9
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 01/25/2023
Views: 3
TEXT FROM HISTORICAL MARKER AFFIXED TO THE HOUSE
Mergenthaler House
From 1894 to 1899, this house was the residence of Ottmar Mergenthaler, a German immigrant who revolutionized the art of printing with his invention of the Linotype. Previously a typesetter searched for a single character, then placed it in a line for printing; Mergenthaler’s machine enabled him to assemble and cast an entire line of type in a matter of seconds.
His machine was patented in 1884, but his first commercial demonstration did not occur until two years later in the composing room of the New York Tribune.
By 1900, there were 8,000 linotype machines in newspaper plants across the nation; by 1970, there were more than 200,000 worldwide. It has been estimated that until the recent developments in cold type processes, the Linotype machine, or its descendants, set 80% of all the text read in the world.
The Mergenthaler House was built in 1874-1875 by Joseph S. Hopkins, nephew of the noted philanthropist, Johns Hopkins.
The marker was erected by the City of Baltimore, Printing Industries of Maryland, Inc., sponsor, and William Donald Schaefer, mayor.
FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event
Date of FIRST: 01/01/1884
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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