history of typography: the industrial revolution

The Industrial Revolution affected typography and its advancement in many different ways. It had two major effects on print communication including the introduction of more functional type designs for commercial business and new kinds of print. Print media emerged from this era and allowed advertising to be done in a new, effective, mass-producing way.

The ability to design new typefaces was easier as well. The Linotype Machine (right), or Line-Casting Machine, was invented during this time and improved the rate at which type can be set. Its input was much like that of a typewriter. Thomas Edison considered this to be "the eighth wonder of the world". A few other of inventions during this time were the Pantographic Punchcutter in 1885, and the Monotype Character Caster in 1893. The Punchcutter worked by having an operator trace a brass pattern of a letter with one part of the device, and its cutting tool engraved the letter onto the punch. The Character Caster cast single letters in lead and composed them into a page.

Something else introduced during this time was the style of bold face. Serifs were experimented with as well, and eventually disappeared altogether into a style known as grotesque.

American Typefoundry (ATF) was also founded during this time. It was largely directed and created by Morris Fuller Benton (right). 23 type foundries merged together to create this company that is a monopoly in the type industry, and the largest in the world.

In 1796 Commercial Art was founded by Alois Senefelder. By the year 1848 the process was refined to print speeds of 10,000 sheets per hour allowing for mass production at a fast rate. Lithography merged art with industry to produce posters and plates for books. This is now known as Graphic Design, although the term did not come about until the 1950s.

Quiz Question: Name one invention from the Industrial Revolution.

Sources:

http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/type_basics/slab_serif.htm

http://www.typophile.com

http://www.myfonts.com/foundry/atf

Ambrose, Gavin and Paul Harris. The Fundamentals of Typography. Switzerland: AVA Publishing, 2006.