The Linofilm System article is spread over three pages:
Page 1, Page 2, Page 3
The material on this page is taken from a brochure published in circa 1960 by the Mergenthaler Linotype Company. The brochure showcased the company's latest machines and innovations, including the Linofilm System.
The whole document is available for download, in PDF format, from the Metal Type Library.
The width card, here being inserted in the keyboard unit, provides exact width information for each character in a font to give superlative typography
The conventional typewriter keyboard has a small bank of control buttons for leading, quadding and centering, justification and other functions.
Eighteen different fonts are instantly available, in a range of sizes from 6- through 36-point. Display sizes can be keyboarded at the same speed as text matter.
The keyboard produces a perforated paper tape containing all the information necessary for the fully-automatic operation of the photographic unit.
The photo unit is capable of handling the tape output of several keyboards, and will produce right-reading positive type on film or photographic paper.
It will change font, point size, leading and line length in accordance with the signals from the tape.
The photographic unit operates at speeds equivalent to 16 newspaper text lines per minute. Line lengths are through 42 picas.
The Linofilm Corrector makes film corrections easy. It simply welds corrected lines in position automatically.
The film has extra strength at the point of the weld, and corrections can be made at speeds of three lines per minute.
The Composer combines the functions of makeup and enlarging, producing a made-up page with all type in precise location – including angled lines up to 90° – and in proper size, ready for the insertion of halftones and artwork.
It will enlarge through 180-point and reduce to 4-point. Widths through 102 picas are available.
The versatility, of Linofilm allows any combination of units to meet specific, individual needs.
Versatility, speed of operation and economy are important characteristics of the Linofilm System, but the ultimate proof of the machine's superiority is in its product: The printed word.
From its very beginning, the constant goal of Linofilm design has been to provide the finest typography.
In this the Company has been fortunate that it could draw on its own vast typographic resources.
In transferring its famed faces to the Linofilm, Mergenthaler designers took great pains to preserve the character and integrity of each font.
The versatility of Linofilm typography allows the designer great latitude in the creation of beautiful and functional typefaces.
Typographic refinements become routine in Linofilm composition. Kerning is built-in, with the operator selecting kernel characters right at the keyboard.
Letter spacing, both plus and minus, is also easily and quickly handled through keyboard push buttons.
Linofilm font grids consist of 88 negative characters on a sturdy glass plate, and are housed in this turret. Font grids automaticall swing into operation as called for
Go to Page 1, Page 2, Page 3.A small selection of Letterpress Ebay listings appear below. A much bigger selection appears here. Linotype-related Ebay listings are here.
