1914-1918

At the outbreak of the First World War, it was estimated that there were 30,000 linotype machines in operation across the world. In 1914 the company was particularly proud of the fact that four linotype typesetting machines were installed in the Vatican.

As part of the war effort, in July 1915 the Government instructed Linotype to start making small parts for guns, mostly big naval guns. The plant reached such a high standard of workmanship that the arms company Vickers conceded that the Linotype factory was better at making gunlocks for their big guns than their own plant. Apart from gun parts, the plant produced, among other things, shells, bombs, gearboxes for lorries, road track links for tanks, and valves and valve rockers for Rolls-Royce and other aero engines.