The Monotype is a typesetting machine developed by Tolbert Lanston at the end of the 1880s. Unlike the Linotype, it casts each character separately, which makes it possible to correct a letter without recasting the whole line and made it the choice for quality work, especially book publishing.
Where to see it
The Monotype works in two stages: a keyboard punches a paper tape, which then drives a casting machine. The name lives on through the Monotype Corporation, behind Times New Roman, created in 1932 for The Times newspaper, and today one of the largest font libraries in the world.
Why this detail matters
The Monotype holds a special place in the history of typography:
- By casting each letter separately, it offered a finesse of correction and typesetting that was highly valued in publishing;
- Its two-stage operation, keyboard then caster, foreshadowed the separation between input and production;
- The company that grew out of it played a major role in creating and distributing typefaces that became classics.
Related term
The Linotype is the competing machine, which casts an entire line of text in a single block.