Carson in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Square Base Linotype Machine
Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark
| | 1890 | |
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2024
1. Linotype Machine Marker
Into the 1890s, newspapers relied upon skilled compositors to set type by hand, one character at a time, just as Gutenberg had done four centuries earlier. Starting in 1882, instrument maker Ottmar Mergenthaler (1854-1899) developed an innovative approach known as Linecasting to mechanize composition. He achieved commercial and practical success with his 1890 Square Base Linotype. Worked by a single operator at a keyboard, this machine cast complete lines of justified metal type, ready for the press. With its five-fold increase in composing speed, Mergenthaler's Linotype allowed continued expansion in the number, circulation, and size of newspapers around the world.
Erected 2005 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 33° 50.547′ N, 118° 16.948′ W. Marker is in Carson, California, in Los Angeles County. It can be reached from Torrance
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles and in the Transverse Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jose Rizal (approx. 1½ miles away); Roosevelt Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Pacific Electric Railway (approx. 1.7 miles away); Jared Sidney Torrance (approx. 2.1 miles away); Robert A. Cinader (approx. 2.8 miles away); First United States Air Meet (approx. 3 miles away); The Washington Elm (approx. 3.2 miles away); PFC James Anderson (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carson.
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2024
2. Linotype Machine and Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2024
3. Linotype Machine
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2024
4. International Printing Museum
Photographed by Craig Baker, June 1, 2024
5. International Printing Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 317 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 5, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
