Linotype the machine, Linotype the film

The film is a feature-length documentary centered around the Linotype type casting machine. Called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by Thomas Edison, it revolutionized printing and society. It tells the surprisingly emotional story of the people connected to the Linotype and how it impacted the world.And really anything else you need to know… see the film! The official trailer is below, take a look.

Do you even know what Linotype is? Well, if you are over 35, whether you know it or not, your experience with all kinds of newspapers, magazines an books has been because of Linotype. That your parents and grandparents even your great-grandparents can read I'd because of a fascinating machine that only a few folks understand. The thing is the Linotype machine may soon disappear. And only because a bunch of middle aged folk decided to save a few, are we even talking about it.


I recently left work and hiked out to the Brooklyn Navy Yard with a few other designers, because we were tempted with a slug of lead type with our name. 


We saw the film called Linotype made by Douglas Wilson and a few of his friends. It was very good for a first film and excellent in that it reveals and may save from obscurity (at least in the design world), the marvel that is the Linotype machine. We also got to tour Woodside Press which is at the Navy Yard as well. Not a bad deal all round.


The Linotype machine was invented by Ottmar Mergenthaler in 1886 and is responsible for every newspaper printed in most of the world. From the early 20th century until about 1978 it reigned supreme until phototypesetting took its place; the same way digital typesetting has replaced it.