Who is Johannes Gutenburg?

Answer 1

Johannes Gutenberg was the inventor of the printing press. This was the machine that allowed books to first be printed. Indeed, it is the forerunner of the modern printing press, which gives us books, magazines, and newspapers.

Answer 2

Gutenberg was a talented craftsman and a good teacher too. His innovative ideas matched with a great degree of self-confidence, inspired many to invest in his enterprises. Gutenberg opened a workshop in Strasbourg, where he engaged mainly in crafts involving metalwork and also taught others on professional terms.

Andreas Dritzhen, a former student of Gutenberg and Hans Riffe, a steward at Lichtenau entered into a partnership with Gutenberg for manufacturing what is described as "mirrors" for what must have been a very significant pilgrimage called the Aachen pilgrimage. These mirrors appear to have been badges with some lines or symbols of the pilgrimage cast on them. Obviously, Gutenberg must have found a new technique of etching on them as Andreas Dritzhen and later Andreas Heilman joined the partnership. The partners invested fairly large sums of money. Of the proceeds of the enterprise, half went to

Gutenberg. The pilgrimage originally slated for 1439 was postponed for a year, jeopardizing their plans. But the partners appear to have earned enough to pay off their loans and retain their confidence in Gutenberg. The partners then took up a new undertaking. This project cloaked in secrecy may have been the harbinger of a revolutionary method in printing.

Andreas Dritzhen, one of the partners died in the Christmas of 1438. His brothers Jorg and Claus brought a law suit against Gutenberg in 1439 claiming that the latter had prevented them part ownership of the undertaking in which the deceased had put money from the joint estate of their father making them the rightful legal heirs. The partners may have agreed upon the participation of the heirs of a deceased partner in case of such an eventuality. No such agreement was, however, registered officially.

On Dritzhen's death, Gutenberg had immediately told his other partner to instruct the provider of press, Conrad Suspach, to remove 'two small screws' from it so that the invention remained a secret. The press happened to be lying at Dritzhen's house and it is possible that the Dritzhen brothers had already tampered with it. The nature of the project was much debated. A goldsmith, Hans Dunne claimed that he had received 100 guilders from the partnership for 'what had to do with printing.'

All the available details seem to imply that the invention was most likely a printing press and nearing completion. Returns were expected to be quick and plenty. No wonder then, that on one hand the heirs of Dritzhen were intent on becoming partners to the expected fortune and on the other, the existing partners were not willing to reveal much about their enterprise but used terms like 'the work' or 'adventure and art'. The court records reveal that the authorities interested mainly in the financial aspect of the dispute held that as per the partnership agreement, Gutenberg had regularly paid the premiums to Dritzhen. On the contrary, the latter owed him 85 guilders. So, by paying 15 guilders to the heirs Gutenberg would have repaid Dritzhen's investment in the project, besides he was not compelled to take the Dritzhen's brothers as his partners. Thus, Gutenberg came off lightly from this legal wrangle.Dritzhen's death and the subsequent court case led to a significant slow down in Gutenberg's business activities. The partnership also may have been dissolved. In fact, not much information is available about where Gutenberg was and what he did from 1439 to 1442. Records show that he paid wine tax, stood surety for a loan for his friend, but not much besides that. In fact, besides court and government records there is no other source of information on Gutenberg's life. It is possible that these years were spent in perfecting his invention. In 1442, after a lull of three years Gutenberg again sought finances by way of a loan against his Strasbourg life annuity. He approached the St. Thomas Chapter of the Church for the same and was granted a loan.

In 1443, his sister Else died. It is likely that his brother-in-law occupied Zum Gutenberg, Johanne's childhood home in Mainz. His sister's only child, a daughter, was married off and lived in Frankfurt. These circumstances may have prompted Gutenberg to return to Mainz. Though 1444, tax records revealed that he paid his wine tax in Strasbourg that year, another view holds that Gutenberg's house in Strasbourg may have been destroyed by the soldiers of Armagnacs, who overran the city at the behest of Emperor Friedrich III.Whatever the cause, Gutenberg appears to have returned to his native town around 1444 to 45. Gutenberg seems to have got down to serious work after settling down. In 1448, a relative Arnold Gelthus stood surety for Gutenberg for a large sum of money borrowed by him. Gutenberg did not or could not bring much back with him from Strasbourg. The press was later discovered in Strasbourg. It is possible that Gutenberg had to start from scratch as far as equipment was concerned. He may have tried to innovate, but badly needed more funds for his enterprise.

It also speaks well of Gutenberg's reputation, which probably included his family background, that many citizens of Mainz were willing to lend or stand surety for substantial amounts. He must also have been able to convince others of the returns from his invention without revealing too much about it. It also speaks well of the people of Mainz, that they were open and receptive to innovative ideas and change. From the accounts of the day Mainz appears to have been a bustling town and a center of commercial activity. Politically, socially and commercially the 15th century was a vibrant time. All these factors may have led to the ease with which Gutenberg was able to raise finance for his enterprises.

It was during this period that Gutenberg came in contact with Johann Fust, a rich advocate by profession. Gutenberg must have explained the basics of his invention and convinced Fust and his brother of its viability and utility. Fust lent Gutenberg a sum of 800 Guilders at an interest of 6 per cent against the surety of his workshop. Fust is believed to have raised this money from other sources. The first payment was made in 1450. This advance from Fust helped Gutenberg set up the printing press that he had visualized.

Here, one needs to get an idea of what this path-breaking invention was that Gutenberg so passionately believed in.

Answer 3

Johannes Gutenberg was the inventor of the printing press. This was the machine that allowed books to first be printed. Indeed, it is the forerunner of the modern printing press, which gives us books, magazines, and newspapers.