b. May 1, 1801 and d. August 13, 1884

American inventor. Invented a score or more of important labor-saving devices. Had the inventor’s usual career. Founded the “American Mechanic” and the “Scientific American,” August 28, 1845.

Pick and click
Goes the type in his stick,
As the printer stands at his case;
His eyes glance quick, and his fingers pick
The type at a rapid pace;
And one by one, as the letters go,
Yet the type they look but leaden and dumb,
As he puts them in place with finger and thumb;
O, where is the man with such simple tools
Can govern the world as I?

—J. C. Pierce

1428—Laurentius Coster employed metal types.

1436—The art of printing from movable type was invented by Johann Gutenberg, at Mentz.

1853—Wm. H. Mitchell invented a typesetting machine.

1888—The linotype, for casting type by machinery, operated by a keyboard, was perfected by the inventor, Ottmar Mergenthaler, of Baltimore; speed, 3,000 to 6,000 ems per hour.

The Chinese claim that we are indebted to them for the art of printing and movable types, and for the mariner’s compass, stoves, chain bridges, spectacles, chain pumps, India ink, silver forks, winnowing machines and tread-mills.

Only $ 25.00

Only $ 670.00