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The history of Linotype in Italy

Linotype founded a company in Italy, named Linotype S.p.A., which was based in Milan and sold Linotypes under the name 'Italtype'.

Linotype S.p.A. was not well-known in Northern Europe, but seems to have been the most important distributor of Linotypes in Southern Europe. The advertisement below lists "Parigi, Roma, Istanbul, Bari, Metz, Milano, Salerno, Genova, Reggio Calabria, Vienna, Catania, Bologna, Cremona, Padova, Messina, Legnano, Torino, Napoli, Cognento, Verona, Ankara, and Firenze". This illustrates a strong presence in whole Italy, and even in Ankara, Turkey, but does not mention any presence outside those countries.

Italtype advertisement

Figure: An Italtype advertisement showing a strong presence in Italy (Linotype S.p.A., 1953)



Two years later, the slogan "Fabbrica in Italia ed esporta in tutto il mondo le migliori macchine per composizione meccanica" is used, which translates as "The best mechanical composition machines, manufactures in Italy and exported all over the world." However, except for some Italtypes in Greece on our page with the Italtype models, we poses no evidence from Italtypes outside those Mediterranean coutries.

Italtype advertisement

Figure: An Italtype advertisement claiming that Italtypes were exported all over the world (Linotype S.p.A., 1955)



An overview of the models can be found here.

Sources

  1. LINOTYPE S.P.A. (1953). Italtype. In: Fiera di Milano. Rassegna dell'Ente Autonomo Fiera. [Milan Fair. Review of the Autonomous Fair Authority.] Year VI. Single number. p. 355. [advertisement]
  2. LINOTYPE S.P.A. (February 1955). Italtype. In: Fiera di Milano. Rassegna dell'Ente Autonomo Fiera. [Milan Fair. Review of the Autonomous Fair Authority.] Year VII. Single number. p. 377. [advertisement]
  3. LINOTYPE S.P.A. (1960). Italtype manufactured by Linotype s.p.a. - Milano (Italy).

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