WOA 50th ANNIVERSARY -- An Industry Time Line

1439—Around this time, Gutenberg is working on the development of a two-part, fixed-metal type mold capable of producing type characters (movable type) of various widths and of a uniform type height. These molds replace the inadequate wood and clay molds used earlier.

1444—In recent times, the earliest fragment of printing from moveable type are discovered in Mainz, Germany, having been buried for centuries in the binding of an old book. Because of its crude printing, authorities conclude that "The World of Judgment" probably dates from the period when Gutenberg was concluding his experiments in Strassburg.