First U.S. permanent type foundryIn 1796, the first permanent typefoundry in the U.S. was establishedby Archibald Binny and James Ronaldson. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were immigrants from Edinburgh, Scotland. Ronaldson, a baker, contributed the greater part of the financing. Binny was already trained in the production aspects and provided his typecasting materials. Earlier U.S. typefounders existed in the short term. But the Binny & Ronaldson business grew, and with mergers became American Typefounders Co (1892). The earliest practitioner in America was Abel Buell, who first produced type on 1 Apr 1769 in Killingsworth, Connecticut. (By legend, he was brought the statue of King George III from New York City to be melted down and turned in to type.) With their own craftmen, America was more independent.« |
