(1886-1959), typesetter

George Westover, born in 1886, was a pioneer in the design of type-composing machinery. He served on the front line in the First World War, retiring as major. After the war he was persuaded to take an interest in the design of type-composing machinery, in particular the rare precision of the Monotype composing and casting units. He joined the British Monotype Corporation as deputy works manager in November 1922 and in 1928 he became London manager.

In 1937 he had applied for a patent on what became his Rotofoto film-setter. It was built to his designs under his supervision by the Coventry Gauge and Tool Company and demonstrated to the trade in 1948. In spite of ill health he turned from experiments with film setting to the development of powderless etching machines. He re-joined the Monotype Corporation as a consultant, with specific reference to the etching process in April 1956. He died in November 1959.