Linotype: The Film

Directed and produced by Doug Wilson, Linotype: The Film is a feature-length documentary about a revolutionary printing technology that like so many others has since fallen into desuetude. The Linotype machine could cast type in complete lines--hence its name--and thereby was greatly faster than manual typesetting. The film documents the views of present-day Linotype operators, and explores the place of the Linotype in the digital age. The world premiere was held on February 3, 2012 in New York City, with additional screenings scheduled around the country.

The Linotype is still used by Route Three Press in Anamosa, Iowa to produce The Wapsipinicon Almanac. The video below was produced by the Gazette's Dave Rasdal and shows Eldon Meeks at work on a Model 8 Linotype.