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Linotype had several subsidiary companies, including one in Germany. During the years, they built several models. An overview is found below.

Model 1 is a machine with one magazine and one distributor. It ws a derivative of the American Model 1.

Since 1901, the name 'Simplex' was applied, at least informally.

There has been confustion about the 'Simplex' name. Read more about this on this page.

Photo: The Model 2 Simplex at Typorama, Bischofszell, Switzerland

Model 4 is called a Simplex-Ideal-machine. It has shorter magazines, which could only contain up to 15 matrices per channel.

Photo: The Linotype Model 4 at the Typorama, Bischofszell, Switzerland

Photo: The Linotype Model 4 at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

Model 4a is identical to model 4, but has two magazines.

Photo: The Linotype Model 4bg at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

The Model 5 has two magazines and two distributors.

Photo: The Linotype model 5 at Typorama, Bischofszell, Switzerland

Photo: The Linotype model 5 at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

The Model 5cs is a mixer machine, with two distributors stacked on top of each other.

Photo: The Linotype Model 5cs at the Museum of the Printing Arts Leipzig, here with an additional Teletypesetter attachment.

Photo: The Linotype Model 5cs at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

This model has some distinctive features which distanciate it from other machines. Its two distributions stacked on top of each other make this model slightly higher than other models. Its springs on top have special covers. Its second elevator is mounted on a small platform. Its keyboard has quite an ornamented backside. On the bottom, an extra suspension can be found.

It was more than likely that this Model 5cs was copied as the Zetotype, the Czech experiment to make their own linecasting machines, because the Zetotype has the same detailing as the German Linotype Model 5cs.

Photo: The Linotype model 6 at Typorama, Bischofszell, Switzerland

Model 8 has three magazines and one distributor. It could be purchased as a one-magazine machine and extended later on.

Photo: the Linotype Model 8 at Typorama, Bischofszell, Switzerland

Model 10 has four magazines and four distributors.

Photo: The Linotype Model 10a at Typorama, Bischofszell, Switzerland

Model 11 is identical to model 10, with the exception of the lower two magazines. Those only had 68 channels for larger type sizes.

Model 12 is identical to model 5, but is equipped with two side magazines.

Photo: The Linotype Model 12 at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

Model 13 is identical to model 4a, but is equipped with larger main magazines. Those magazines contain 124 channels to limit the use of the hand matrices. The keyboard is also exteded with 34 additional keys.

The Zwei-in-Einer-Linotype, model 4b is identical to model 4a, but is equipped with three main magazines, which are also extra large. Those magazines contain 124 channels. The last 34 channels are spaced more widely, to maintain thicker matrices with larger type sizes. For this reason, the machine could be used for both regular work and the advertising industry.

This Linotype-Universell has little in common with the other Linotypes. Matrices are inserted by hand. The machine has the same purpose as the All-Purpose-Linotype from the American models.

Model 16 is an extended model 8, it has four magazines. Those magazines can maintain matrices up to a type size of 60 point.

Photo: The Linotype Model 16 at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

Photo: The Linotype Model 18 at Typorama, Bischofszell, Switzerland

Photo: The Linotype Model 20 at Typorama, Bischofszell, Switzerland

Photo: The Linotype Model 20 at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

Photo: The Linotype Model 22s at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

Photo: The Linotype Model 24q at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

Photo: The Linotype Model 28q at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

Photo: the Elektron at Typorama, Bischofszell, Switzerland

Photo: The Linotype Model Gamma at the Haus der Industriekultur, a Hessian State Museum located in Darmstadt.

1. Own collection and museum visits.
2. ABEL, O.R., & STRAW, W.A. (1956). Mechanism of the Linotype and Intertype. Brookings Lebawarts Press: South Dakota.
3. DE JONG I.C.H. (1947). Handboek voor den lino en intertypezetter (manual for the Linotype and Intertype operator).

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