About The Project

In 2012, I made a film about the Linotype which only scratched the surface of its impact on society, communication, and journalism. Now, I’m writing a book about it.

This book will be part historical study of the untold stories and part beautiful coffee table book filled with images and amazing brochures from the world’s best collections of Linotype ephemera.

This website and newsletter will document the process and share never-before-seen documents and materials as I research and write the book.

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Follow along on the journey as I research, write, and shape the book into its final form. The only way to learn more about the book is to sign up for the members-only newsletter.

Why a paid newsletter? Because research costs time and money and I want to share this journey with the “true believers” that want to see this book exist as much as I do.

No spam, only updates and stories from the road. Secret locations, special photos, member-only access, and behind-the-scenes of the good, the bad, and the ugly of turning this book from an idea to reality.

Did you know?

  • The Linotype wasn’t the first (or possibly even the best) typesetting machine — so how did it win?
  • Ottmar Mergenthaler was kicked out of his own company because he couldn’t stop tinkering with his own invention?
  • Journalism was dealing with disinformation long before the Linotype?
  • Venture capitalists almost refused to let the inventor of the Linotype improve the machine?
  • The Linotype company almost went under because Mergenthaler submitted a patent 49 days too late?
  • There is still a newspaper in Colorado that uses a Linotype to this day?
  • The author Mark Twain almost went bankrupt funding a Linotype competitor that was faster at composing type?
  • There was a Twilight Zone episode that was centered around a Linotype?
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
  • Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
  • Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
  • Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa.

Just The Facts, Ma’am

Research locations identified
16
Spreadsheets already created
8
People on book advisory board
6
Estimated budget to self-publish
$300k
Custom font already designed
1
Estimated pages of final book
450
Books currently in the bibliography
14
Estimated years to finish researching
1½

Research Plans

  • The original Blower Linotype is somewhere in deep storage outside of Washington D.C. and hasn’t been seen publicly in three decades. I want to find it.
  • There was an NBC radio broadcast on June 29, 1936 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Linotype — does the recording still exist?
  • It seems like Linotype didn’t care too much about fine typography until Chauncey Griffith criticized the company’s offerings.
  • What was the APL (All-Purpose Linotype) and why did it fail so spectacularly?
  • Why did the Linotype company fail to transition to photo and computer technology?
  • How were women involved in the Linotype?
  • Why was the International Typographic Union so powerful?
  • Why did the New York Times wait until 1978 to finally stop using the Linotype daily?
  • Why was Ottmar Mergenthaler so angry at the end of his short life?
  • There were several sci-fi short stories about the Linotype with amazing storylines and illustrations. I want to reprint them.
  • What was the relation between the U.S., U.K., German, and Italian Linotype companies?
  • How did a small group of people swindle over $775,000 from the company in 1945?

About me

A professional headshot of Doug Wilson, the author, smiling at the camera.

Hi, my name is Doug Wilson, and I am a designer, writer, and typographic historian that lives in Denver, Colorado.

Over a decade ago, I made a film about the Linotype typecasting machine and its impact on people and society. After the film came out, I thought that was the end of my story with the Linotype, but I was wrong.

I’ve continued to research and collect information about the Linotype with a focus on the larger impact on society and journalism. Now, I’m writing a book about it.

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