Litho Printing & Graphics history

After about 1825 many firms that utilized the lithographic process were established for producing a variety of commercial work and for distributing popular topical, historical, and religious subjects to a wide audience.

In 1826, Joseph Niepce, a French scientist, produced the world’s first photograph.

Offset lithography As standard lithography was taking off in the second half of the 18th century, innovations in the process were already underway and by 1853, the method of offset lithography was patented by Englishman John Strather.

In 1860 the phototransfer process was patented, enabling a photographic image on sensitized paper to be inked and transferred to the printing surface.

It was introduced into the United States in 1866.

Paul Gaugin an artist and friend of Vincent Van Gogh, found much success in using cloured lithography, as did the American printmaker James Mcneill Whistler, as can be seen with his famous Nocturne lithograph made in 1878.

Offset methods for printing on paper were developed in the United States shortly after 1900.

Gulf had been founded in 1916.

Established in 1964, Advanced Litho Printing has grown with the times, held on to high-quality standards in the process, and has served several generations of customers well.

With backing from family and investors, Davis formed Consolidated to acquire Western Lithograph Company in 1985.

A second acquisition, Grover/Houston Litho, followed in 1987.

The first out-of-state buy, Tewell's Printing of Denver, came in 1988.

Launching a Management Training Program in 1991

In June 1994, the company went public, raising about $20 million.

Sales were $57 million in fiscal 1995, with a net income of $4.5 million.

Annualized revenues for the fiscal year ending March 1996 were about $100 million.

Revenues were $625 million in fiscal 2000, while net income was $38.5 million.

CGX posted net income of $20 million on sales of $708 million in fiscal 2004.

“History of Lithography,” Geno Jezek, 2006, http://www.whatislithoprinting.com/history.html

“The History of Lithography,” College of Technology: Digital Media Program, 2010, http://graphics.tech.uh.edu/courses/3350/materials/History_of_Litho.pdf (No longer available)