Type and Presses in America: A Brief Historical Sketch of the Development of Type Casting and Press Building in the United States

In Short

This historical sketch serves as a foundational text for understanding the mechanical development of the American printing industry. It focuses on the rise and eventual consolidation of type foundries and the parallel innovation of printing presses. By documenting the move from hand-wrought tools to steam-powered automation, the book illustrates how American ingenuity transformed a labor-intensive craft into a modern, efficient engine of mass communication. It remains a valuable, straightforward record of the inventions and specific personalities that shaped the physical tools of the trade.

The Story

The narrative begins in the colonial era, a time of scarcity where printers struggled with insufficient equipment and lack of local support. Early attempts at type founding were often sporadic or unsuccessful, hampered by a lack of capital or the overwhelming preference of the public for familiar English typefaces. The author highlights the colorful, if checkered, career of Abel Buel, a Connecticut native who, after a brush with the law for counterfeiting, briefly produced the first domestically cast English type. Similarly, Benjamin Franklin’s ambitious attempt to establish a foundry with French tools failed, largely because the reading public rejected the unfamiliar aesthetic of French design.

The arc of the story shifts significantly with the formation of the first permanently successful enterprise: the partnership of Archibald Binney and James Ronaldson in Philadelphia. Their success, fueled by a combination of Scottish technical expertise and prudent capital, set a new standard for the industry. As the nation expanded, so did the demand for printed matter, leading to the establishment of numerous foundries in growing hubs like Boston, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. The author traces this growth through a period of intense competition, characterized by over-production and the eventual necessity of consolidation, culminating in the formation of the American Type Founders Company in 1892.

Parallel to the development of type is the story of the printing press. Early American printers relied on imported equipment, but soon, inventors such as Daniel Treadwell began creating power-driven presses. The narrative follows the transition from wooden frames to iron, from human or animal power to the revolutionary application of steam, and finally to the electric drive. The author highlights key milestones, such as the introduction of the Hoe type-revolving machine, which fundamentally changed the scale of newspaper production. By the end of the book, the industry has evolved into a highly mechanized system, utilizing advanced electrotyping processes and high-speed rotary presses. The final chapters detail the rise of mechanical typesetting, featuring the invention of the Linotype and the Monotype, which solved the acute problem of composing room bottlenecks. The text concludes by situating these mechanical advancements within the broader context of the United Typothetae of America’s educational mission, framing these technical histories as essential knowledge for the modern printer.

How It Unfolds

The pioneering struggle The narrative opens with the difficulties of colonial-era type founding, where limited resources and public skepticism stifled early efforts. It highlights the failure of high-profile attempts, including those by Benjamin Franklin, to gain a foothold against imported English standards.

The shift toward stability A turning point arrives with the partnership of Binney and Ronaldson, whose reliable foundry established a template for success. This period marks the transition from precarious individual efforts to sustained business models capable of meeting the growing American appetite for newspapers.

The age of expansion and consolidation As foundries spread westward, the resulting market saturation and competition necessitated a unified approach. This leads to the organizational merger of numerous regional houses into the American Type Founders Company to stabilize the industry.

The mechanical revolution The focus shifts to the innovation of the printing press, moving from hand-operated iron machines to sophisticated steam and electric-powered apparatus. Key inventions, particularly those by Hoe and Mergenthaler, are presented as the technological catalysts for the modern high-circulation newspaper.

The People

Archibald Binney and James Ronaldson stand as the primary architects of a stable industry. Binney, a trained Scottish craftsman, provides the technical expertise, while Ronaldson, a businessman, provides the capital. Together, they succeed where others failed by focusing on the core essentials of the trade.

Abel Buel appears as a vivid, representative figure of the early "Connecticut Yankee" archetype—resourceful and restless. His transition from a counterfeiter to a creator of type and crystal polisher illustrates the erratic, experimental spirit of the era.

Benjamin Franklin is portrayed as a visionary whose attempts were thwarted by external factors, specifically the stubborn preference of the public for traditional English designs over his preferred French models. His failure serves as a lesson in the power of market habit.

Henry Barth is noted for his role in the mechanical perfection of type founding. As an immigrant with a background in mathematical instruments, his inventions—including the steam-powered caster and the kerning machine—pushed the industry toward greater precision.

Ottmar Mergenthaler and Tolbert Lanston represent the final major shift in the industry. By creating the Linotype and the Monotype, they resolve the chronic limitations of hand-setting type, essentially freeing the industry from the speed constraints of the human compositor.

In Its Own Voice

Describing the early challenges faced by the first American attempt at a type foundry:

"In 1768 a Scotchman named Mitchelson came to Boston bringing the tools for type founding with him. We have no record that he ever cast any type."

Reflecting on the nature of the industry in the early nineteenth century:

"Up to the outbreak of the war of 1812 the few type foundries in America were regularly from three to four months behind their orders, so greatly did demand outrun production."

Detailing the motivation of an inventor who fundamentally changed the printing landscape:

"Young Mergenthaler had no desire to expose himself to the danger of being called upon to participate in another great war; therefore, like many other young Europeans, he came to America to avoid military service."

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an exploration of the relationship between industrial necessity and mechanical innovation. It argues that the growth of American printing was not merely a matter of creative design but a result of solving specific logistical hurdles—such as the speed of type-setting and the efficiency of power delivery. The author explores the tension between local, artisanal production and the eventual industrialization that demanded standardization. It asks how a trade evolves when it is forced to move from the individual craftsman’s workbench to the factory floor, ultimately suggesting that the development of the printing industry was a driving force in the modernization of American business.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in industrial history or the evolution of information technology will find this book deeply rewarding. It offers a rare, ground-level view of how a foundational industry built its own infrastructure from scratch. The tone is refreshingly direct; the author is concerned with facts, dates, and technical progression rather than narrative flair, which makes the book feel like a genuine artifact of its time.

However, the reader should be prepared for a text that is strictly functional. Because it was written as a primer for the United Typothetae of America, it does not aim for broad literary appeal. The structure is episodic, moving from one inventor to the next, which can feel repetitive for those seeking a continuous narrative. Additionally, the text reflects the period attitudes of 1918, particularly in its focus on "great men" and European-born innovators. Despite its age and the technical nature of the subject matter, the book succeeds because it refuses to exaggerate the importance of its subjects; it simply presents them as essential contributors to a larger, necessary advancement. It is a sturdy, unpretentious guide that captures the ingenuity of a bygone era of mechanical craft.