Binny & Ronaldson
Encyclopedia
Binny & Ronaldson established the first permanent type foundry in the United States. Founded in Philadelphia in 1796 by the Scots
Archibald Binny (1762/3-1838) and James Ronaldson(1769-1841).
Archibald Binny, of Scotland
, emigrated to Philadelphia in the United States in 1795. Binny had been a printer and had some experience in type-founding in Edinburgh
. Binny, in partnership with James Ronaldson, a baker who had lost his business in a fire, established a type-foundry
in 1796. While operating under the name Binny and Ronaldson, the foundry itself was known as The Philadelphia Type Foundry. The foundry
was quite successful and for a time the only type foundry
in the United States.
In 1806, Binny & Ronaldson acquired from William Duane some tools and equipment that Benjamin Franklin
had purchased from Pierre Simon Fournier
in France
twenty years earlier. In 1812 the foundry issued the first type specimen book ever produced in the United States. Archibald Binny created a spring lever, which improved the efficiency of type casting. Binny patented three improvements to type-founding: an improved printer's mold, a method of "smoothing or rubbing printers' types", and molds for casting printing types.
Archibald Binny retired from the business in 1815, selling his share of the foundry to his partner, James Ronaldson. Ronaldson continued the business until 1823 when he retired, passing the foundry to his brother Richard Ronaldson. The foundry was under the ownership of Richard Ronaldson, when it was purchased in 1833 by Lawrence Johnson
and George F. Smith. The foundry was combined with Lawrence Johnson’s existing stereotype foundry and greatly expanded and improved. Although it was known as The Johnson Type Foundry well after Johnson’s death in 1860, The foundry was owned and operated by Johnson and Smith for ten years until 1843 when Smith retired. Johnson operated the business on his own until 1845 when he brought in three junior partners: Thomas MacKellar, John F. Smith and Richard Smith. Then the Johnson Type Foundry operated under L. Johnson & Company until 1897 when it became MacKellar, Smiths and Jordon, upon the addition of Peter A. Jordon as a partner. In 1892, the firm was incorporated with the American Type Founders’ Company
.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
Archibald Binny (1762/3-1838) and James Ronaldson(1769-1841).
Archibald Binny, of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, emigrated to Philadelphia in the United States in 1795. Binny had been a printer and had some experience in type-founding in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Binny, in partnership with James Ronaldson, a baker who had lost his business in a fire, established a type-foundry
Type foundry
A type foundry is a company that designs or distributes typefaces. Originally, type foundries manufactured and sold metal and wood typefaces and matrices for line-casting machines like the Linotype and Monotype machines designed to be printed on letterpress printers...
in 1796. While operating under the name Binny and Ronaldson, the foundry itself was known as The Philadelphia Type Foundry. The foundry
Type foundry
A type foundry is a company that designs or distributes typefaces. Originally, type foundries manufactured and sold metal and wood typefaces and matrices for line-casting machines like the Linotype and Monotype machines designed to be printed on letterpress printers...
was quite successful and for a time the only type foundry
Type foundry
A type foundry is a company that designs or distributes typefaces. Originally, type foundries manufactured and sold metal and wood typefaces and matrices for line-casting machines like the Linotype and Monotype machines designed to be printed on letterpress printers...
in the United States.
In 1806, Binny & Ronaldson acquired from William Duane some tools and equipment that Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
had purchased from Pierre Simon Fournier
Pierre Simon Fournier
Pierre Simon Fournier was a French mid-18th century punch-cutter, typefounder and typographic theoretician. He was both a collector and originator of types”. Fournier's contributions to printing were his creation of initials and ornaments, his design of letters, and his standardization of type...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
twenty years earlier. In 1812 the foundry issued the first type specimen book ever produced in the United States. Archibald Binny created a spring lever, which improved the efficiency of type casting. Binny patented three improvements to type-founding: an improved printer's mold, a method of "smoothing or rubbing printers' types", and molds for casting printing types.
Archibald Binny retired from the business in 1815, selling his share of the foundry to his partner, James Ronaldson. Ronaldson continued the business until 1823 when he retired, passing the foundry to his brother Richard Ronaldson. The foundry was under the ownership of Richard Ronaldson, when it was purchased in 1833 by Lawrence Johnson
Lawrence Johnson (type-founder)
Lawrence Johnson , was born and educated in England. After an early apprenticeship in the printing industry, he emigrated to the United States of America in his youth, and became an eminent stereotyper and type-founder in Philadelphia and one of the most extensive and successful type-founders in...
and George F. Smith. The foundry was combined with Lawrence Johnson’s existing stereotype foundry and greatly expanded and improved. Although it was known as The Johnson Type Foundry well after Johnson’s death in 1860, The foundry was owned and operated by Johnson and Smith for ten years until 1843 when Smith retired. Johnson operated the business on his own until 1845 when he brought in three junior partners: Thomas MacKellar, John F. Smith and Richard Smith. Then the Johnson Type Foundry operated under L. Johnson & Company until 1897 when it became MacKellar, Smiths and Jordon, upon the addition of Peter A. Jordon as a partner. In 1892, the firm was incorporated with the American Type Founders’ Company
American Type Founders
American Type Founders was a business trust created in 1892 by the merger of 23 type foundries, representing about 85% of all type manufactured in the United States...
.