The Mergenthaler company was formed in 1886 to develop and market Ottmar Mergenthaler’s invention of the linecaster. Under Chauncey Griffith’s typographic direction from 1915 to 1949 the company assumed the leading position in the Americas in both book and newspaper production, originating a large and varied library. Under the direction of Allied Corporation, the company lost control of the overseas companies and became the American marketing arm of Allied Linotype, centered in Frankfurt.