Linotype and Machinery Limited was formed as the result of a merger between the Linotype Company Limited, originally registered as a company in 1889, and the Machinery Trust Limited, registered in 1893.
The Linotype Company Limited initially imported American built machines from the Merganthaler Linotype Company. However, as demand grew it looked to producing the parts and making the machines in England initially at a converted mill on Hulme Street, Manchester from 1889 onwards.
The Machinery Trust Limited acted as agents either selling or leasing the composing machines to printers. The success of the companies continued and in order to meet the demand for the machines the two companies merged on the 11th August 1903. They also clarified their position with the American owners of the original patents as to which countries they could sell their machines. The new company occupied the premises of the Linotype Company in Broadheath, Altrincham.
By the time of the outbreak of the First World War, it was estimated that there were 30,000 linotype machines in operation across the world. Linotype and Machinery Company Limited had established branch offices in Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Borneo, as well as having a head office in London, and sales offices in Cheltenham.
Sincroflash Limited was a photographic service based in Dover Street, London. The company was incorporated in 1945 as a private limited company. It was dissolved in 1994.
Date
1952-1969
Scope and Content11 black and white photographs showing Linotype sales and printing department staff at celebratory dinners, plus a menu from a provate dinner held on the retirement of three employees, 1953-1969.
Extent12 items
LanguageEnglish
Archival historyThe photographs were commissioned by Linotype & Machinery and given to employees who appear in them, including the donor’s uncle. When the donor’s uncle died, the photographs passed to the donor’s father as his brother’s heir. When the donor’s father died, the images passed to the donor. The menu was retained by the donor’s uncle after the dinner and passed to the donor by the same route as the images.
Linotype and Machinery Limited was formed as the result of a merger between the Linotype Company Limited, originally registered as a company in 1889, and the Machinery Trust Limited, registered in 1893.
The Linotype Company Limited initially imported American built machines from the Merganthaler Linotype Company. However, as demand grew it looked to producing the parts and making the machines in England initially at a converted mill on Hulme Street, Manchester from 1889 onwards.
The Machinery Trust Limited acted as agents either selling or leasing the composing machines to printers. The success of the companies continued and in order to meet the demand for the machines the two companies merged on the 11th August 1903. They also clarified their position with the American owners of the original patents as to which countries they could sell their machines. The new company occupied the premises of the Linotype Company in Broadheath, Altrincham.
By the time of the outbreak of the First World War, it was estimated that there were 30,000 linotype machines in operation across the world. Linotype and Machinery Company Limited had established branch offices in Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Borneo, as well as having a head office in London, and sales offices in Cheltenham.
Alan Wetherall, known as Alec, was born in 1914 and worked for Linotype and Machinery in their London office from before the Second World War. His start date with the company is not known, but he was employed as an Area Sales Manager working from home and from the company's London office. He would show potential clients around the Linotype factory in Cheltenham. He retired from the company in 1969. He died in Colchester in 1999.
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