Marder, Luse & Co. II—The Chicago Type Foundry, 1872-1894
Chicago Type Foundry, Marder. Luse & Co. I
Life Span: 1857-1871
Location: 90 Washington Street, between Clark and Dearborn, Moved to 139 Monroe (1869)
Architect: Unknown
D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859-60
Chicago Type Foundry, David E. Dodge, treas, 90 Washington
Halpin & Bailey’s City Directory for the Year 1863-64
Chicago Type Foundry, H. A. Porter agt., 90 Washington
Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870-71
Marder, Luse & Co. (John Marder, A. P.Luse and David Schofield), proprs. Chicago Type Foundry, 139 Monroe
Chicago Tribune, October 2, 1858
AN ITEM OF IMPORTANCE TO PRINTERS.—
We have been shown at the Chicago Type Foundry, No. 90 Washington street, a new article of Combination Metal Furniture prepared at that establishment, which the proprietors are just offering to the printing craft.
It is a novelty in this country (though a similar kind of furniture has been in use in England for some years) and is immensely superior to any furniture now in market. We cannot better speak of its merits thanto quote from the Company’s Circular.
- This Furniture is so arranged in size that any size form can be perfectly justified without cutting. It is cast in sections varying from four to fifty lines Pica in length, and from one to ten lines Pica in width—thus saving the continual waste of wood furniture, and its continual waste of wood furniture, and its continual swelling and shrinking, while for its lightness and durability it must have the approval of all who see it. The pieces are supported by cross-bars, which give great strength with but little weight, and all are cut to correct Pica measure, and fitted correctly.
A price has bee put upon the furniture, which brings it within the reach of every printer, and we believe that it is cheaper at double its cost than any other, on account of its lightness, leaving out of consideration the facility for obtaining perfect register, and making up forms quickly.
We expect soon to have a font in use in our job rooms, and predict for the future a heavy sale for which it is every way worthy.
We will merely add that it is the result entirely of Chicago enterprise, and we are glad to be assured of the success of the Chicago Type Foundry, and to have this new evidence of its progress as an institution in our city. We have purchased extensively at this establishment and know from experience that the material manufactured and furnished is every way equal to that made at any foundry in the country.
We propose at no very distant day to give our readers a little idea of type founding as carried on at this establishment.
Chicago Tribune, February 20, 1861
CHICAGO TYPE FOUNDRY.—We call attention to the advertisement in our columns this morning. This foundry has occupied a prominent position as one of the manufacturing establishments of our city for some years past, its reputation for punctuality and good work is second to no other like institution in any part of our country. In addition to an assortment of about every kind of type, and of the most approved cut, that manager is also agent for R. Hoe & Co.’s world renowned Ruggles job press, which all printers know is a superior article. In connection, also, with the foundry, are excellent facilities for electrotyping, under the immediate superintendence of a gentleman who thoroughly understands his business. Particluar attention given to this is branch of the typographical art. Mr. D.L. Dodge, who has been the courteous and efficient agent of the establishment for some years past, but who was compelled to relinquish his duties for some months, in consequence of the impaired state of health, is again by his post, ready to receive and promptly execute all orders from the craft. We may add that the type on which the Chicago Tribune is printed comes from the Chicago Type Foundry, and we can say, what all will acknowledge, that it commends that establishment to the patronage of all who need articles in this line.
History of Chicago; Its Commercial and Manufacturing Interests and Industry, By I.D. Guyer, 1862
TYPE-FOUNDRY AND TYPESETTING.
A very large proportion of the book printing now done the world is from stereo- through type plates. Every book that is intended for a second edition is stereotyped in the beginning. The process is simple and easy to be understood. A page is set up with movable type ; an impression is taken from it in plaster, and the type metal run into the mold where the entire page is cast, which with the proper cleaning up, remains for future use. All the delay and expense of re-setting type is saved, when a new edition is called for. The art of stereotyping is by no means so modern as is commonly supposed. In the first era of printing, solid blocks of wood, in which a whole page of words was carved out, were in common use. Next follows the process of type-founding, or casting the letters separately in molds, which enabled the printer to set up any page he pleased in a short time. In the beginning of the last century a Dutchman, named Van de Meyer approached very near the modern system of Stereotyping, by setting up the pages of a quarto Bible in movable type, which were converted into a solid mass by soldering them at the back. This was more expensive. Probably William Ged, an Edingburgh goldsmith, was the first to practice stereotyping as at present understood. He invented the process of casting whole pages, in 1725. He stereotyped Bibles and prayer-books for the University of Cambridge; but owing to the opposition of his compositors, they artfully introduced errors enough to bring the books into discredit. Great credit is due in tracing the history of this important improvement in printing, to the exertions of Earl Stanhope, who furnished the means and encouraged extensive trials and experiments at his country-seat in Kent. Although the cost of stereotyping a work in the beginning, is nearly twice as great as that of merely setting the type, still it is considered best to stereotype a book; because, from the plates once made small editions can be produced whenever required, and less risk incurred in paper, printing, and binding, besides, at short notice a new edition of a work can be produced. It is supposed that the almost universal habit of stereotyping works in this country has reduced the cost nearly one half upon all works brought out by that process. Type-Founding, in this country, dates from 1735, when Christopher Sower established a printing-office in Germantown, near Philadelphia. About 1790, Messrs. Archibald Bimy, and James Ronaldson made the first real improvement in Type-Founding since the days of Peter Schoeffer. Since then, the art has been brought to its present state of perfection, by a combination of inventive talent, so that one man is enabled to make eighteen or twenty thousand types in a day. The metal used is a mixture composed chiefly of lead, antimony, and tin, in proportions suited to the kind of type required.
During the last few years, the demand for Printing Presses, Type, Stereotyping, Electrotyping, and every article connected with the printing business, has increased to such an extent, that great establishments have become necessary to supply the rapidly increasing demand.
Nearly half a century has elapsed since White’s Type Foundry was established in New York, the reputation of which has become favorably known wherever the printer, that herald of progress and advancing civilization, has gone forth.
In 1855 Mr. White was induced to establish, in Chicago, a branch of his New York house, to facilitate his extensive trade in the North-West, and for the better accommodation of his numerous patrons the result of which is, that the “Chicago Type Foundry,” as a central Depot, for supplying every article that may be required by the craft, throughout this section, has become a permanent institution.
The manufacturing department of the Chicago Depot, being under the supervision of persons trained to their several duties, is a guarantee as to the quality of the type made. The press of the North-West, everywhere, speaks of the type, presses, and material from this establishment, in terms of the very highest commendation.
The Chicago Tribune says, “We can endorse most cordially the resources of this Foundry in Type, Presses, Cases, Inks, and all the appurtenances of of a Printing Office. Their type is of a quality equalto any manufactured in this country, and their facilities are such as to meet any orders.” This establishment is managed in a manner most gratifying to the entire printing craft of the North-West by Mr. H.A. whose strict Porter, business qualifications and gentlemanly demeanor are fully recognized by those who have any dealing with this House.
They are located on Washington, between Clark and Dearborn Streets.
Chicago Evening Post, March 12, 1867
CHICAGO TYPE FOUNDRY.—The card of this well-established concern will be found on our first page. To their numerous friends it is only necessary that they are still at the old stand and old business. To those who are just finding their way to Chicago as the only metropolitan center in the West, we would say that this establishment has been in operation for twelve years, and has kept steady pace with every advance in the art of making type and printers’ material generally. Instead of going to the East, as formerly, the largest offices in this city and other points in the West buy their entire orders from the Chicago foundry. Its proprietors are practical, careful business men, fully alive to the necessities of the times; and to our brethren of the press, who come or send to Chicago, we would say, Don’t neglect you own Western foundry.
The Chicago Specimen, January, 1869, Volume 3, No. 1, Published by Chicago Type Foundry/Marder, Luse & Co.1
By the above announcement it will be seen that the Chicago Type Foundry is now under the management of Marder, Luse & Co. With the idea prominent that we might become more intimately acquainted with the wants of the printer, we have associated our firm Mr. Luse, who has been connected with the business practically in all its branches for over fifteen years years, and if experience in that way is of any advantage we propose to give our patrons the benefit, by being enabled ro attend to their wants more fully than heretofore.
We said, a year ago, if the year 1868 and the years which we hoped are to come after it, brought us a proportionate increase of business with the year just past, has been realized beyond our expectations. But we shall not stop here. The printers and publishers in our section, both city and country, have entrusted us with their orders to a large extent, and encouraged by their good will and patronage we commence the year 1869 with the full determination that the productions of the Chicago Type Foundry shall be largely increased in the future, and inferior to none in the country. We spare no pains or expense, to have our metals always uniform and sufficiently hard and tough to give the fine lines in Types the required strength. Adding continually new faces to our stock, and keeping on our shelves the keading styles of other foundries, we are prepare to fill orders promptly at current prices. Thanking our friends for past favors to the old firm, we trust the same will be continued to the new.
We are truly yours,
M. L. & Co.
Chicago Evening Post, January 5, 1869
We notice that A.P. Luse, Esq., from Davenport, Iowa, has purchased an interest in the Chicago Type Foundry. Mr. Luse will be a valuable acquisition to the firm as an active partner. He is a practical printer, a business man of large experience and means, having been the head of the extensive book bindery and book and job printing establishment of Luse & Griggs, at Davenport for some ten years. The Chicago Type Foundry has been a popular institution with printers aand publishers in the West, and Mr. Luse is a gentleman that will undoubtably add to the present popularity and patronage of the establishment. We are always pleased to welcome gentlemen of fine business talents and staunch integrity to our city, and from our previous acquaintance with Mr. Luse, we commend him as such.
Chicago Tribune, February 13, 1871
We are indebted to Marder, Luse & Co., of the Chicago Type Foundry, for the January number of The Chicago Specimen, which is not only a beautiful specimen of typography, but also contains several interesting articles, among them a well-written sketch of “The Cramping Printer,” and a comprehensive variety of news and special intelligence of interest to the craft.
Chicago Type Foundry, Marder. Luse & Co.Specimen Book, 1870
Chicago Type Foundry
90 Washington
1862
Marder. Luse & Co.
139-141 Monroe
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869
NOTES:
1 The Chicago Specimen was a magazine published by Marder, Luse & Co.