H
ILLINOI S
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

PRODUCTION NOTE
University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign Library
Brittle Books Project, 2011.

COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION
In Public Domain.
Published prior to 1923.

This digital copy was made from the printed version held
by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
It was made in compliance with copyright law.
Prepared for the Brittle Books Project, Main Library,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
by
Northern Micrographics
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La Crosse, Wisconsin
2011

1

'1 HE

JONOLINE,

The Monoline Composing Co.,
PRINCIPAL

OFFICE:

Mertz Building, Corner 11th and F Streets N. W.,

WASHINGTON, D. C.

FOR CANADA, 98 TEIPLE BUILDING, MONTREAL.

Columbian Exposition, Machinery Hall,
BEST AND CHEAPEST KNOWN.

October 9,

1893.

TO THE PRINTING TRADE.
The Monoline Composing Machine is now on exhibition in Machinery Hall of the Columbian
Exposition, Chicago, where it will remain until the close of the Fair. It will then be removed to the
rooms of the Company, No. 260 Dearborn Street, Chicago, for inspection during the months of
November and December.
In offering the Monoline Composing Machine we claim that it is very much superior to
all other line casting machines in:
1st.-SIMPLICITY
2d.-COST OF

5th.-USE
6th.-SIZE

CONSTRUCTION

MACHINE

3d.-DURABILITY
4th. -ACCURACY

OF

AND

AND

MODICUM

ECONOMY

OF

POWER

IN

USE.

REQUIRED.

AND SPEED.
AND

SCOPE

OF

WORK.

OF ANY ARRANGEMENT
AND WEIGHT

7th.-RAPID CHANGE

OF

OF

KEYS.

MACHINE.

OF FONTS

OF

TYPE.

The speed of the machine is up to the fastest operator. The capacity of the keyboard
is between ten thousand and eleven thousand ems per hour, and it is the only interchangeable
keyboard known. Its keys .may be changed in five minutes to conform to the wishes of any
typewriter operator without changing any other part of the machine, and the touch of the
typewriting machine has been closely imitated.
These features assure an abundance of
operators in case of any emergency.
The casting mechanism is set at five lines a minute, which speed may be increased or
decreased at pleasure.
The spaces (justifying bars) are assembled and distributed the same as are the
matrices.
The alignment and justification are perfect; the distribution is automatic, rapid and
unerring.
The Monoline is substantially built, and is easily kept in working order. The attendance
of a machinist is not needed nor desirable; better that the operator take full charge and be
held responsible for its condition.
No part will break in working, because the machine

One-tenth of a
will stop if any obstacle is interposed to the free action of any of its parts.
Steam, electric,
horse power connected by a one-fourth inch round belt is ample to run it.
water, man or any other motor may be used.
The machine cannot make a mistake, nor can the operator, if he touches the right key
(a failure to do which is inexcusable), because the machine necessarily assembles in proper order
the character shown on the key touched by him, and automatically takes the matrix and space
bars required in the line from the point where it is "set up," justifies it and moves it to the
casting point, casts, trims and places the line as cast in regular order in the chase ready to be
placed in the form for the printing press and returns the matrix and space bars to their allotted
In the meantime the operator continues his work on the keyboard,
chambers for further use.
line, and loses no time watching the machine doing its work. Mistakes
setting up another
should be very rare, and if made they can be corrected more quickly than in hand composition.
Twenty
The metal is kept in.proper melted condition by gas, kerosene or other fuel.
are ample. Ordinary stereotype metal is used, and very little is lost by
feet of gas per hour
Monoline matter is type high and may be made up in series of cast lines, or
remelting.
mixed with ordinary type. Italics, or any other odd characters, may be used. They are distributed as "pi" if used with a font of Roman letters.
The line casting machines before the public are the Mergenthaler Linotype, the Rogers
Typograph and the Monoline. The Linotype and Typograph are prolific in circulars asserting that
to the
each infringes the patents of the other, and are boisterous in their reciprocal "cautions"
The Linotype Company has a judicial decision of a lower
trade. Both are probably correct.
court that the Typograph as a line casting machine is in a part of its construction an infringement of a patent of the Linotype Company. The latter cannot truthfully deny that an essential
part of its machine is an infringement of a patent belonging to the Typograph Company. So
they go.
The Monoline Composing Company is now rapidly making and duplicating the necessary
special tools for the manufacture of the Monoline, and believes it will be in condition to supply
the demands of the trade from and after February 1st next.
The Monoline carries more characters than any other machine. It is sold complete
with one font for $1,000, or rented a year for $250. Additional standard fonts from pearl to
pica, with necessary extras, will be furnished for $100 each font. Other sizes and styles can be
supplied.
Any person who desires the Monoline machine will be supplied at the earliest practicable
date, and be fully protected in its use.
For further information address:
THE MONOLINE COMPOSING COMPANY,
Washington, D. C.

THE GREAT GERMAN DAILY, ESTABLISk ED IN 1834.

59 YEARS IN EXISTENCE.

_

OFFICE OF THE
----Yom--

GERMAN DAILY (MORNING AND EVENING)' WEEKLY AND SUNDAY PAPER.

Tryon Row,
CORNER CENTRE ST. AND PARK

Post Office Box 1207,
Row,

New York City.

Opposite City Hall.

OSWALD OTTENDORFER, Editor.

ENTLEME

NEW YORKER STAATS-ZEITUNG

BUILDING.

GENTLEMEN :
Replying to an immense mail relating to the Monoline Composing Machine, I beg to say that nearly
all of the several thousand inquiries received are of the same general purport, and hence I take the liberty to
print my answers.
1st.-I have examined the Monoline Machine with great care, and for several weeks critically tested its
capacity for good and steady work, and have no hesitation in pronouncing it the best Line-Casting Machine now
known. In my opinion no other machine approaches it in either of the elements of simplicity, durability, range
of work or cheapness ; and no other machine surpasses it in quality of work. I have also caused it to be examined
by several persons in whose judgment in such matters I have the greatest confidence, and without an exception
my opinion has been fully sustained.
2d'.-In addition to its wonderful simplicity, cheapness, durability and good Work it has an interchangeable
keyboard, which can ,be arranged ii less than five minutes to suit any typewriter, and three minutes is ample
time- to change one font of 'type for another. It is more substantial than the ordinary typewriter machine, and I
believe will require less care and skill to keep it in good working condition. Its weight is about 450 pounds.
The one machine (requiring only one operator) does the whole work; distribution of matrices is automatic.
3d.-My observation of the Monoline enables me to say that a fair operator should set forty-eight thousand
ems in eight hours (6,000 ems per hour), although a fast operator could do much more. I do not think any other
machine equals it in this respect.
4th.-The Monoline can be used with equal profit in small and in large offices. It does not need the
watchful care of a skilled machinist. An intelligent girl or boy should be able to take entire charge of it after
a few days' practice.
5th.-The cost of the Monoline to the purchaser, I understand, will not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000),
with favorable terms of payment. Considering the cost of making the machine, I think that sum is quite enough,
although there is no doubt in my mind that the Monoline, if worked four hours a day, will save in type
composition more than enough to pay that amount in a year.
6th.-The machine in running does not make as much noise as the ordinary typewriter. A boy can easily
drive it. It occupies a floor space of about 3x4 feet, and all its working parts are in full view.
7th.-The use of ordinary type is dispensed with except for large display lines. Any press used in printing
The cost of metal is very small ; there is but little loss
from ordinary type or stereotype plates can be used.
in its use.
8th.-You have been advised that the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung has been using the Mergenthaler
Linotype Machine in its Daily, Weekly and Sunday issues for about two years. As General Manager and Treasurer
of that newspaper, I was instrumental in the purchase by that paper of twenty-four of those machines, and
have been running them with gratifying success ever since. With this experience I have no hesitation in saying
I am convinced that the Monoline at the same price is a much more economical machine, and in range of
work and ease of management is vastly superior. Its cost is but one-third that of the Linotype.

that

9th. -Kindly

use enclosed envelope if more information is desired.
Yours truly,
HERMAN

RIDDER.

This book is a preservation facsimile produced for
the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
It is made in compliance with copyright law
and produced on acid-free archival
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which meets the requirements of
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Preservation facsimile printing and binding
by
Northern Micrographics
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La Crosse, Wisconsin
2011