I found this really interesting, a deep dive into a font you've almost certainly seen that has its origins further in the past than even the author originally thinks.
I found this really interesting, a deep dive into a font you've almost certainly seen that has its origins further in the past than even the author originally thinks.
Interesting is putting it lightly. Long read but so so worth it if you're into design or typography, shit, even keyboard nerds and mechanical engineers might find intrigue in this. I work at a...
Interesting is putting it lightly. Long read but so so worth it if you're into design or typography, shit, even keyboard nerds and mechanical engineers might find intrigue in this.
I work at a school and immediately started walking around looking for old signs with this font/typeface and it took only seconds to find an example of it.
I loved taking typography in college, I continue to enjoy it with a passing fascination but type nerds often take it to the next level, as evidenced by this essay.
I'm a font fan. I like fonts have hundreds if not thousands installed as just-in-case for when I do need to produce something with type, but haven't delved into them enough to call myself an...
I'm a font fan. I like fonts have hundreds if not thousands installed as just-in-case for when I do need to produce something with type, but haven't delved into them enough to call myself an enthusiast/nerd about them (although I wouldn't mind doing so, just haven't found the time).
Admittedly I didn't know the name of this font, but as soon as I got to the first batch of images I said to myself "Oh, that's the pantograph font!" I used to work at, then ran, then owned a small sign-making shop with an pantograph engraver, not a Gorton mind you, but still a semi-regularly used tool in the shop for those mounted signs in the article and around the country. It's funny the random knowledge that some people have and take for granted as it was just part of their experiences in life that others, like the author, went down long rabbit holes to find.
Could those be font sizes? I think it's a Compugraphic brand typesetter with font size keys built in, but I'm not sure on specifics None of these have those exact keys, but it seems like the...
Could those be font sizes?
I think it's a Compugraphic brand typesetter with font size keys built in, but I'm not sure on specifics
None of these have those exact keys, but it seems like the right, or close to the right direction
It was interesting just randomly. I thought I had no interest in any of this stuff, but, well, maybe I do. Or maybe it's just that well-written articles from enthusiasts can be universally...
It was interesting just randomly. I thought I had no interest in any of this stuff, but, well, maybe I do. Or maybe it's just that well-written articles from enthusiasts can be universally interesting.
I also wanted to note how much of a pleasure this page's design was. If only the rest of the internet was like this--all of the benefits of modern design without any of the annoyances.
I once went on a day long car trip with someone who was super into NASCAR. I knew nothing about it and had no interest. That day I learned that anything can be interesting if explained by someone...
I once went on a day long car trip with someone who was super into NASCAR. I knew nothing about it and had no interest. That day I learned that anything can be interesting if explained by someone with a passion for it.
I was so happy to read this article. I’ve been in love with this typeface for a long time without knowing anything about it. Another place it (or something very similar) turns up is Japanese...
I was so happy to read this article. I’ve been in love with this typeface for a long time without knowing anything about it.
Another place it (or something very similar) turns up is Japanese websites when they need to render the Latin alphabet. That’s where I first became consciously aware of it. It seemed so wonderfully functional and no-nonsense.
I have my grandfather's old K&E Leroy set. It's fun to use, but it can be a little finicky to get right. My grandfather was a professor, so I'm not really sure what he used it for. I think maybe...
I have my grandfather's old K&E Leroy set. It's fun to use, but it can be a little finicky to get right. My grandfather was a professor, so I'm not really sure what he used it for. I think maybe for manuscripts in places where the typewriter wasn't ideal?
I'm fascinated by pre-digital solutions like the pantograph and Leroy mentioned here. They're typically so tactile and intuitive. Computers are obviously ingenious, but they work as black boxes: they don't willingly give up their secrets. Analog tools are so much more sensory: you can see, feel and hear how they work. I just find that immensely satisfying.
That was quite the interesting deep dive into this font! I've noticed it all over old terminal keyboards and older mechanical systems and I always associate it with those things. It was cool...
That was quite the interesting deep dive into this font! I've noticed it all over old terminal keyboards and older mechanical systems and I always associate it with those things. It was cool learning about the partial history of this font and how it evolved around the world. In a way, it feels like a shared language developing separately on different continents.
This isn't clickbait, and that's only one of the names for the font! I didn't include the specific name on purpose, because it's only sort of called Gorton now, and wasn't named at all when the...
This isn't clickbait, and that's only one of the names for the font!
I didn't include the specific name on purpose, because it's only sort of called Gorton now, and wasn't named at all when the Gorton company offered it and it came from a previous UK company. But I thought the journey is worth not getting a (mostly irrelevant) name
I immediately recognized the font from my keyboards as I have spent too much on Signature Plastics key caps (they use Gorton Modified as mentioned in the article), but even still the article was...
I immediately recognized the font from my keyboards as I have spent too much on Signature Plastics key caps (they use Gorton Modified as mentioned in the article), but even still the article was very interesting and a great read. I knew the font was heavily used in engraved labels for aerospace tech and I have seen it on tons of elevators, but I was still surprised how by ubiquitous it is.
That was fascinating. I enjoyed both the history and the sentimentality. I'm not sure my senses about fonts are fine-tuned enough to be able to agree with just how attractive or ugly the...
That was fascinating. I enjoyed both the history and the sentimentality. I'm not sure my senses about fonts are fine-tuned enough to be able to agree with just how attractive or ugly the variations are, but I rather liked most of them. This is perhaps because the font family as a whole just feels familiar and nostalgic to me; I have no idea how many times I've seen it over the years, but surely it's been a lot. I do agree with the author that a lot of the well-worn signs have a satisfying appeal to them, but I can't agree as much about the ones with particularly bad kerning. :-)
I found this really interesting, a deep dive into a font you've almost certainly seen that has its origins further in the past than even the author originally thinks.
Interesting is putting it lightly. Long read but so so worth it if you're into design or typography, shit, even keyboard nerds and mechanical engineers might find intrigue in this.
I work at a school and immediately started walking around looking for old signs with this font/typeface and it took only seconds to find an example of it.
I loved taking typography in college, I continue to enjoy it with a passing fascination but type nerds often take it to the next level, as evidenced by this essay.
I'm a font fan. I like fonts have hundreds if not thousands installed as just-in-case for when I do need to produce something with type, but haven't delved into them enough to call myself an enthusiast/nerd about them (although I wouldn't mind doing so, just haven't found the time).
Admittedly I didn't know the name of this font, but as soon as I got to the first batch of images I said to myself "Oh, that's the pantograph font!" I used to work at, then ran, then owned a small sign-making shop with an pantograph engraver, not a Gorton mind you, but still a semi-regularly used tool in the shop for those mounted signs in the article and around the country. It's funny the random knowledge that some people have and take for granted as it was just part of their experiences in life that others, like the author, went down long rabbit holes to find.
As a seeker of random knowledge, anyone know what this is - https://aresluna.org/images/the-hardest-working-font-in-manhattan/keyboards/dsc03621.1500.avif - and why the numbers go 6+2+2+2+2+4+6+6+6+12+12+12?
Great article, going to explore the rest of the author's site now for more. Thanks for the great find @DefinitelyNotAFae!
Could those be font sizes?
I think it's a Compugraphic brand typesetter with font size keys built in, but I'm not sure on specifics
None of these have those exact keys, but it seems like the right, or close to the right direction
Looks like this one
Facebook photo
medium article
Compugraphic IV Typesetter - I feel like a detective
It was interesting just randomly. I thought I had no interest in any of this stuff, but, well, maybe I do. Or maybe it's just that well-written articles from enthusiasts can be universally interesting.
I also wanted to note how much of a pleasure this page's design was. If only the rest of the internet was like this--all of the benefits of modern design without any of the annoyances.
I once went on a day long car trip with someone who was super into NASCAR. I knew nothing about it and had no interest. That day I learned that anything can be interesting if explained by someone with a passion for it.
Yeah I absolutely could go find this font immediately at my workplace
I was so happy to read this article. I’ve been in love with this typeface for a long time without knowing anything about it.
Another place it (or something very similar) turns up is Japanese websites when they need to render the Latin alphabet. That’s where I first became consciously aware of it. It seemed so wonderfully functional and no-nonsense.
Oh that's very interesting! I wonder if there's a traceable history of how it was the selection!
I have my grandfather's old K&E Leroy set. It's fun to use, but it can be a little finicky to get right. My grandfather was a professor, so I'm not really sure what he used it for. I think maybe for manuscripts in places where the typewriter wasn't ideal?
I'm fascinated by pre-digital solutions like the pantograph and Leroy mentioned here. They're typically so tactile and intuitive. Computers are obviously ingenious, but they work as black boxes: they don't willingly give up their secrets. Analog tools are so much more sensory: you can see, feel and hear how they work. I just find that immensely satisfying.
That was quite the interesting deep dive into this font! I've noticed it all over old terminal keyboards and older mechanical systems and I always associate it with those things. It was cool learning about the partial history of this font and how it evolved around the world. In a way, it feels like a shared language developing separately on different continents.
This isn't clickbait, and that's only one of the names for the font!
I didn't include the specific name on purpose, because it's only sort of called Gorton now, and wasn't named at all when the Gorton company offered it and it came from a previous UK company. But I thought the journey is worth not getting a (mostly irrelevant) name
I immediately recognized the font from my keyboards as I have spent too much on Signature Plastics key caps (they use Gorton Modified as mentioned in the article), but even still the article was very interesting and a great read. I knew the font was heavily used in engraved labels for aerospace tech and I have seen it on tons of elevators, but I was still surprised how by ubiquitous it is.
That was fascinating. I enjoyed both the history and the sentimentality. I'm not sure my senses about fonts are fine-tuned enough to be able to agree with just how attractive or ugly the variations are, but I rather liked most of them. This is perhaps because the font family as a whole just feels familiar and nostalgic to me; I have no idea how many times I've seen it over the years, but surely it's been a lot. I do agree with the author that a lot of the well-worn signs have a satisfying appeal to them, but I can't agree as much about the ones with particularly bad kerning. :-)