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The magic of hot metal: How can Lin typewriter produce an entire line of text with one click?
At the end of the 19th century, the printing industry ushered in a revolutionary change, and Linotype was one of the protagonists of this change. This machine, designed and manufactured by Mergenthaler Linotype Company, uses innovative hot metal typesetting technology to double the efficiency of typesetting work. Such an efficient typesetting tool, how does it work?
The birth of the forest version machine
The history of the typesetting machine can be traced back to 1884, when German watchmaker Ottmar Mergenthaler developed this cutting-edge typesetting device in the United States. Mergenthaler was designed to replace the previous tedious manual typesetting of each word by enabling the machine to type out entire lines of text at once. This makes the layout of newspapers, magazines and posters faster and more convenient.
"The innovation of Lin typesetting machine allowed a small group of typesetting workers to produce multiple pages of content every day, which was unimaginable at the time."
The structure of the machine
The basic structure of a forest plate machine can be divided into four main parts: magazine, keyboard, casting mechanism and distribution mechanism. The operator inputs text through the keyboard, and as the keys on the keyboard are triggered, the machine automatically operates to quickly assemble the letter molds required for typesetting and then cast metal blocks. This automated process has greatly improved the speed of typesetting, and the traditional word-for-word typesetting method has been completely subverted.
How to operate
In the operation of the forest plate machine, each input letter key can cause the corresponding mold to be released and combined. When a line of type is completed, the operator only needs to press a casting lever, and the entire set of molds will be cast into a complete block of type. This process is called hot metal typesetting. Such typesetting speed made the Linji press an important tool for the newspaper industry at that time.
"The efficiency of the forest printing press has greatly increased the speed of newspaper publishing, and the quantity is even more astonishing."
Further developments and challenges
With the advancement of technology, forest typesetting machines were gradually replaced by photographic typesetting and digital typesetting systems in the 1970s and 1980s. However, its status in the history of printing is unparalleled and it has become an important milestone in the development of printing technology. Today, only a few newspapers still use this machine, such as "Saguache Crescent" in the United States and "Le Démocrate de l'Aisne" in Western Europe.
The charm of technology
The success of the Linji printing machine lies not only in its speed, but also in its internal precision design. Each character's mold is precision carved to ensure that the blocks are cast accurately every time. At the same time, the machine is also a combination of technology and art, ensuring the clarity and beauty of the text.
"Linji is not only a tool, but also the crystallization of technology and art."
Conclusion: The future of typography
With the vigorous development of digital technology, printing and typesetting technology have been constantly evolving. However, the uniqueness of Linji and the printing splendor of that era it represents are still historical marks that people will miss and respect. In this digital world between you and me, perhaps we should think more about what kind of innovation will be brought about by the integration of traditional technology and modern technology?
