Typograph Composing Machine, 1907-1912

01

Artifact Overview

In 1884, the labor of hand-setting type was reduced with the introduction of hot-type composing machines. A QWERTY keyboard on the Typograph was used to assemble one full line of type. The machine cast the type in metal, and printers assembled lines into full pages. The Typograph factored into a "linecaster war," threatened with patent infringement upon the Mergenthaler Linotype.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Composing machine

Date Made

1907-1912

Creator Notes

Made by American Typograph Company in Detroit, Michigan. Patented by John R. Rogers.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

29.576.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Cast iron

Dimensions

Height: 58 in
Width: 42.5 in
Depth: 30 in

Inscriptions

plate, right rear: AMERICAN TYPOGRAPH CO / DETROIT MICH / PATENTED U.S.A. / JULY 14, 1903 / MAY 1, 1906 / JUNE 19, 1906 OTHERS PENDING / MACHINE NO 445
Typograph Composing Machine, 1907-1912