On Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:35:50 -0700, Lobby Dosser wrote:

Holtzapffel lathes are among the most complex mechanical contrivances on
the planet.

Possibly true, but a Linotype machine would give them a run for the
money. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linotype_machine

I'd heard a while back that Mergenthaler had a nervous breakdown after he
finished the design, but I can't find anything currently to confirm that.

--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw