Tag Archives: lettering

Duro-Decals-Pressure-Sensitive-Letters-Numbers-Box-close-up

Duro Decals Box o’ Typography

The Duro Decals brand, which still exists today, has been knocking out good, wholesome, sturdy display type and lettering (in decal, sign, and stencil form) since 1938. The Chicago-based company begat “Duro Dan,” their quirky advertising mascot, a sort of elvish, mustachioed gnome-like character that touted Duro’s wares during the middle of the 20th century. […]

Ludlow-Typographic-Influence-1931–1962-10

The Ludlow: Typographic Influence, 1931–1962

On Saturday, November 12, I gave a brief presentation at the International Printing Museum about a selection of typefaces that were designed by Robert Hunter Middleton for the Ludlow Typograph, a letterpress linecasting machine (for which we just so happen to be doing a Kickstarter Campaign). Focusing on the idea of “typographic influence,” I have […]

Wiener Städtische original poster art

This is a very proud acquisition for me: it’s the original, hand-constructed artwork that was used to create a mid-century modern Austrian poster, advertising the Wiener Städtische Versicherung (Vienna Insurance Group). I’ve done a little searching, but I haven’t found any of the actual posters; it’s possible that this was never produced, or it might […]

Vari-Typer T-Shirt

A sneak peek at a t-shirt the Night Shift created at the International Printing Museum. The silkscreen was created without the use of cameras, scanners, computers, or the like; it’s completely analog. The Vari-Typer Headliner, a photocomposition typesetting machine from the 1950s, was the descendant of a line of complex typewriters. Unlike its predecessors, the […]

Diagonal, fake Vertigo prop poster

Diagonal: Fake Vertigo Poster?

While I’m on the topic of prop documents, this has been bothering me for months: a while back I was watching TV1, and I saw a poster in the background that looked quite a bit like Saul Bass‘s famous Vertigo one-sheet. The typography is almost identical in style. The colors too. The imagery and composition—same […]

Incredible Secret Knowledge—The Night Shift

Incredible Secret Night Shift Knowledge

While perusing through one of the many beautiful type specimens at the International Printing Museum, a looseleaf page advertising “incredible, logic-defying, outrageous secret knowledge” fell out unexpectedly1. Seems that there may have been a Night Shift long ago. Seriously, though, if anyone knows of a film studio or prop house looking for an obsessive level […]