(x) 1920s-30s German signage - Berthold Block {Minimalista}
Hi all,
Sometime in the last few years, at one of the main type sites, I recall seeing a face that I think was based on something from Germany in the 1920s or 30s. I’ve gone back and can’t find it anywhere, but I doubt it’s that tough to ID. Characteristics:
— Heavy/Thick
— San-serif with (I think), very slightly rounded corners
— Used for signage (I think)
— Might only be title case
Thanks!
T. Ross
6.Dec.2007 11.20am
DIN?
6.Dec.2007 11.23am
No... although it’s somewhat similar. It’s much heavier and I think with more rounded corners. I feel like it’s something that possibly would only have been used on posters or handbills originally.
6.Dec.2007 2.21pm
Hi Tony,
just a shot in the dark: Berliner Grotesk?
F
6.Dec.2007 2.54pm
Hi there,
Ok, I don’t know if it exactly fits - it hasn’t exactly got rounded corners - but even if this is the wrong one, it’s a doozy, so I’ll post it anyway.
The Deutsche Blockschrift was not a font, but hand lettering used in the 1920’s and 1930’s. It’s used in a bunch of the central subway stations in Berlin, most notably in a few old platforms at Alexanderplatz.
I’ve always thought it definitely must have influenced Arno Drescher’s Grotesk, which was also designed in the 30’s. After WWII, the (only) East German type foundry VEB Typoart continued producing Drescher Grotesk, also called Super Grotesk, and it became one of their bestsellers.
After the Wall fell and VEB Typoart dissolved, Sven Smital from Berlin design collective eBoy (known for their elaborate pixel drawings) did a Super Grotesk revival for FontFont.
Also interesting and German and partly from the 30’s are the FF City Street Types, although they’re probably not what you’re looking for. The East Berlin version has rounded corners, but it’s from the 50’s.
Good luck!
6.Dec.2007 4.07pm
Lots of great suggestions, but alas, none of these are it... It may be that I’m off on the 20s/30s era, or the German part... Grrr. I will try and find an example somehow...
6.Dec.2007 4.19pm
Since I wrote the bit on Deutsche Blockschrift, I have learnt that it was also known widely as “Wiener Rundblock” and may have in fact, only been re-named after the Nazi takeover.
Here is a link to
FF City Street
6.Dec.2007 4.23pm
Hmmm... after plowing through several hundred vintage German poster images online and not seeing it, I’m starting to doubt my memory. The closest thing I could find is this poster. But what I was recalling isn’t as loose as this...
6.Dec.2007 4.35pm
You might like Garage Gothic.
6.Dec.2007 6.22pm
Oooo, Garage Gothic is looking pretty close, especially the really heavy weights!
6.Dec.2007 9.24pm
Don’t say it’s Poplar!
Another wild guess: Futura Display.
6.Dec.2007 9.45pm
Brauer Neue from Lineto? Or Berthold Block?
7.Dec.2007 11.01am
Minimalista wins! It’s Berthold Block — so I was only off by a decade or so...
THANK YOU everyone!
7.Dec.2007 12.28pm
Could it be you mean Super-Grotesk schmalfett (bold condensed) in the german poster edgeonyou shows? The text is from the communist East Germany in the beginning of the 60ies, Cold War started already. And in East Germany Super-Grotesk was the most common Grotesk after all old east german foundries were overtaken in VEB TypoArt. They had no access to lead types from West Germany in the following decades.
Here is a sample of Super-Grotesk schmalfett (just scroll a little bit):
http://www.typografie.info/typowiki/index.php?title=Super_Grotesk&diff=0...
Georg
26.Dec.2007 6.42pm
ChrisL