Lining Gothic No. 544 already appears in the 1906 catalog, so I went back to the first collective specimen book of ATF (1895). It looks like it is a slight reworking of Lining Gothic No. 44 in that book, which means the font was around before ATF was formed in 1892. You'd have to look at individual specimen books from the foundries that formed ATF to go back further in the history of this typeface, but I doubt you would find who drew it. Most of those early gothics are anonymous. I can scan the specimen page for you if you like.
Juliet

Hi Juliet! I'd love to see a scan. Then maybe I can help António find a digital option.

Hi Juliet!
Thanks for that info. It would be great to have a digitalisation (the best possible).
By the way: if I decided to do a digitalisation of this type, can I do it? I mean in terms of copyright?

Thanks
António

Perhaps paul d hunt may have something to say...
I found a post where he placed an image about the "Lining Gothic 545"...
Here did I found that?
Paul?:-)

António

Here's a scan of Lining Gothic 544. I have a higher-res backup in case you want it later.

Hi Juliet!

Thanks for that post. Dont want to give to much work, but if you have a Hi-res you can send it to my email (or post here!).

my email is: afonseca_at_portugalmail_dot_com

Thanks
António

That is indeed a goofy thing. I agree with what Geoff said here.