|
Sol Hess
American typographer and type designer, b. 1886, Philadelphia, d. 1953. He was a man with class and style, who influenced many through his work. He managed the Lanston library from early in the 20th century (he joined Lanston in 1902) until the second World War. He created many of its typefaces himself, and commissioned many from Frederic W. Goudy. His typefaces (LTC stands for Lanston Type Company): - Alternate Gothic Modernized.
- LTC Artscript (Lanston Monotype, 1940; digital version in 2005 at P22/Lanston). McGrew: Artscript is a delicate calligraphic letter designed by Sol Hess for Monotype, which calls it "an attempt to convert into rigid metal the graceful penmanship of the ancient scribe. ..based on the writing of Servidori of Madrid (1798)." It was designed in 1939 but not released until 1948, because of wartime restrictions. It is a pleasing design for limited use, but its delicacy requires special care in handling. Compare Heritage, Lydian Cursive, and Thompson Quillscript.
- In 1928, he created the now famous Broadway Engraved. P22 writes: LTC Broadway was originally designed by Morris Benton. Sol Hess added a lower case in 1929 and also drew Broadway Engraved for Lanston Monotype. That font is now available in digital format from LTC/P22. Other digital fonts include OPTI Broadway Engraved from Castcraft, Broadway Inline (Softmaker), B820 Deco (Softmaker), B821 Deco (Softmaker), Deco 901 (Bitstream) and Bravo (Corel).
- Bodoni 26: a unicase interpretation of Bodoni by Hess at Lanston, designed by Giampa; digital version at P22/Lanston in 2005.
- Bodoni No. 175 (remastered in 2006 by Paul Hunt).
- LTC Bodoni Bold.
- Bruce Old Style No. 31: a transitional font at Lanston Monotype in 1909. Now a Bitstream face. Based on Bruce Old Style No. 20 from Bruce Foundry (1869).
- Linotype states that Sol Hess is responsible for a version of Cochin Bold (1921): Georges Peignot designed Cochin based on copper engravings of the 18th century and Charles Malin cut the typeface in 1912 for the Paris foundry Deberny&Peignot. The font is named after the French engraver Charles Nicolas Cochin (1715-1790) although its style had little to do with that of the copper artist's. The font displays a curious mix of style elements and could be placed as a part of the typographical Neorenaissance movement. Cochin is especially large and wide and was very popular at the beginning of the 20th century. Note: Cochin is now sold by Linotype, Adobe, Monotype, URW++ and Bitstream (as Engravers' Oldstyle 205).
- English Caslon no 37.
- Flash.
- Goudy Bible (1948). Mac McGrew: Goudy Bible is a modification of Goudy Newstyle (q.v.), adapted by Bruce Rogers with the assistance of Sol Hess for use in the Lectern Bible Rogers designed for World Publishing Company in 1948.
- Goudy Bold Swash.
- Goudy Heavyface Open (1926) and Condensed (1927). Mac McGrew: Goudy Heavface and Italic were designed by Goudy in 1925 in response to a strong request by Monotype for a distinctive typeface on the order of the very popular foundry Cooper Black. Such typefaces had little appeal for Goudy, and he always felt that Monotype was disappointed in his efforts, but the result is more informal than other similar types, and has had considerable popularity. Note the extra set of figures and the unusual number of tied characters and ornaments in the font. Goudy Heavyface Open is a variation produced by Monotype in 1926, probably designed by Sol Hess, who designed Goudy Heavyface Condensed in 1927. Compare Cooper Black, Ludlow Black, Pabst Extra Bold. See LTC Goudy Heavyface, or Goudy Heavyface (Bitstream).
- Hadriano Stone-Cut.
- Hess, Hess Bold (1910). Mac McGrew: Hess Bold was designed by Sol Hess for Monotype about 1910, as a companion typeface for Goudy Light, drawn earlier by Frederic W. Goudy. Of medium weight, it accurately reflects the characteristics of the lighter face with a high degree of legibility, but neither typeface is distinguished. There is also an italic by Hess.
- Hess Monoblack. A great display poster typeface that looks like a hand-drawn version of Nicolas Cochin. Mac McGrew: Hess Monoblack is a Monotype typeface that no doubt was drawn by Sol Hess, but it has not been found in any accounts of his work nor in the regular specimen books. The showing here is reproduced from Monotype's "specimen on request" sheet; no other information has been found except that there are only two sizes with seventy-seven characters each, a practical minimum for cap-and-lowercase fonts. Compare Greco Bold. See P22/Lanston for a digital version called LTC Hess Monoblack done by Paul Hunt in 2005.
- Hess New Bookbold (1946). Mac McGrew: Hess New Bookbold was designed for Monotype in 1946 by Sol Hess. with italic the following year; both were released in 1948. An adaptation of Garamond Bold, the typeface was reproportioned to fit a new standard arrangement which was intended to make it readily available for use with several standard oldstyle typefaces still in common use at the time, but little use seems to have been made of it. Ascenders and descenders are shorter than in Garamond, anticipating later phototype trends, weight is slightly greater, and letters are more tightly fitted.
- Hess Old Style (1920-1923). Mac McGrew: Hess Old Style was designed about 1920 (one source says 1912) by Sol Hess for Monotype, which says it was modeled after a typeface shown by Nicolas Jenson about 1479. It is neat, but does not have much in common with Centaur, Cloister, and other typefaces based on Jenson's work. However, it is a little heavier than most of them and so works to good advantage on smooth papers. The italic followed in 1922. Revived by Steve Jackaman in 1993 as Hess Old Style RR.
- Hess Neobold (1933-1934). Mac McGrew: Hess Neobold was designed by Sol Hess for Monotype in 1934. It is a narrow, bold, and very squarish gothic with small serifs, designed for attention-getting display in a style of the day, but never made in more than one size. Compare Airport Tourist (Futura Display), Othello.
- Hess Title (+Italic, 1910). Mac McGrew: Hess Title and Italic were the first type designs drawn by Sol Hess. Produced in 1910 as advertising types, they were designed for and first used by a prominent New York department store. Only the roman was made in display sizes.
- Italian Old Style Wide.
- Janson.
- LTC Jefferson Gothic: an adaptation of News Gothic Extra Condensed drawn by Sol Hess in 1916; digital version at P22/Lanston in 2005. Mac McGrew: Jefferson Gothic was originally Monotype's copy of News Gothic J Extra Condensed, using the same foundry name. In 1916 Sol Hess designed several alternate round capitals; matrix fonts include both styles of these letters, but no lowercase. Baltimore Type called it Tourist Extra Condensed. Compare Phenix.
- Kennerley Open Caps.
- Laurentian.
- Martin (+Italic). Mac McGrew: Martin and Italic are listed as a Monotype production of 1945, adapted by Sol Hess from old sources, but no specimen or further information has been found.
- New Bookman.
- Onyx Italic (1939, for Monotype). The italic version of Gerry Powell's 1937 ATF typeface Onyx, a condensed version of Poster Bodoni.
- Pendrawn (1934). Mac McGrew: Pendrawn was designed for Monotype about 1933 by Sol Hess. It retains much of the quality of sixteenth-century hand-lettering, and is generally modem in character without the severity typical of most modem types. Serifs are long and thin, slightly concave, but those at the top of lowercase stems are slanted as in oldstyle types. Stems taper slightly toward the ends, and figures are hanging. Round letters tend toward an egg shape, with the small end down. It has been made only in two sizes: regular 36-point as a complete font and 36H4 as oversize capitals only.
- Postblack Italic.
- Post-Stout Italic.
- Poster or Hess Poster. Mac McGrew: Poster or Hess Poster is a heavy, narrow, very compact gothic designed by Sol Hess for Monotype. Its general appearance suggests a contemporary serifless design but in fact there is a slight hint of serifs. The slightly splayed M and the single-bowl g are suggestive of British grotesques. Ascenders and descenders are short, giving a large x-height, and the typeface is closely fitted.
- Slimline (1939). Mac McGrew: Slimline was designed by Sol Hess in 1939 for Monotype. It is a lightweight, very narrow, monotone typeface with tiny serifs and a number of alternate round characters. It has had some use for stationery. Compare Huxley Vertical.
- Spire (1937): a condensed didone, see the digital LTC Spire in the Lanston collection. Mac McGrew: Spire is a modernization of the old modern roman extra-condensed style. drawn by Sol Hess for Monotype in 1937. There is no lowercase, but there are several alternate round characters. Compare Greenwich, Modern Roman Extra Condensed, also Empire, Slimline. Spire is also the name of a dissimilar BB&S face, cut in 1898 or earlier and shown as late as 1927. Spire has been digitized/revived by Ann Pomeroy under the same name for FontHaus and then Group Type. LTC Obelysk Grotesk was designed by the Lanston Drawing Office in the late 1980s. This typeface is a reconstruction of Spire. The skeleton of Spire Roman stands with the serifs removed. Like Spire, this font has no lower case, but does offer alternate cap styles in some of the lower case positions.
- Squareface (1940). Now available digitally as LTC Squareface from LTC/P22. Mac McGrew: Squareface was designed by Sol Hess in 1940 as a variation of Stymie Extrabold. A number of characters are the same for both typefaces, but normally round letters have been squared considerably, with only slightly rounded corners. It makes a vigorous display face, and harmonizes well with other square-serif designs.
- Stationers Gothic (1942-1948). Mac McGrew: Stationers Gothic Light and Bold were designed by Sol Hess for Monotype in 1942, and Medium in 1944, but wartime and post-war conditions delayed their release until 1948. They are similar to the Bank Gothics. following a style of squared letter popular for copperplate engraved stationery and announcements, and in effect constitute a more contemporary form of the style typified by Copperplate Gothics. Like the others, there are several sizes on each of several different bodies, making various cap-and-small-cap combinations easily practical.
- Style Script (1940). Mac McGrew: Style Script was designed by Sol Hess for Monotype in 1940. It is a popular bold thick-and-thin cursive style, which has had considerable use in advertising. It is somewhat like the earlier Coronet Bold of Ludlow, but heavier and with a greater x-height; some characters seem to make a conscious effort to differ.
- Stymie.
- Tourist Gothic (Lanston, 1909; now available digitally as LTC Tourist Gothic from LTC/P22). Mac McGrew: Tourist Gothic is a Monotype copy of Modern Condensed Gothic with a set of several round alternate caps designed by Sol Hess in 1928. (Sizes under 14-point continued under the Modern Condensed Gothic name, without the alternates.) In 1938 Hess drew a matching Tourist Gothic Italic, which added to the popularity of the face, although it lacks the round characters. The Outline Gothic Medium Condensed (or Franklin Gothic Condensed Outline) from some sources is actually an open version of Tourist Gothic. Tourist Extra Condensed of Baltimore Type is a copy of Phenix (q.v.) in 24- to 48-point sizes, and is Jefferson Gothic (q.v.) in larger sizes.
- Twentieth Century was designed by Hess between 1936 and 1947 as a monoline version of Paul Renner's Futura. Mac McGrew: Twentieth Century is Monotype's copy of Futura (q.v.), and in display sizes is essentially an exact copy, while composition sizes are only slightly modified. Several additional versions were drawn for Monotype by Sol Hess, including Twentieth Century Bold Italic and Extrabold Italic in 1937, Extrabold Condensed Italic in 1938, Ultrabold in 1941, Ultra bold Condensed in 1944, and Medium Condensed Italic and Ultra bold Italic in 1947. Some of these weights have different names than their counterparts in the original Futura series or other copies; see the list under Futura for comparison of these names as well as technical data. The main version is sold by Monotype as Twentieth Century MT. The digital type foundry Lanston, or LTC, sells LTC Twentieth Century. Hess Gothic Round NF (2008, Nick Curtis) is based on Twentieth Century. The design was reinterpreted by Herb Lubalin as Avant Garde in the 1970s. Curtis' version softens the harsh geometry of the original designs with rounded line endings. Revivals and derivations of Twentieth Century Poster include Renard Moderne NF (2010, Nick Curtis).
- Ward (1942). McGrew: ard or Montgomery Ward is an adaptation by Sol Hess in 1942 of Memphis Light, specially redesigned for use in the large catalogs of that mail-order company. Strokes are lightened a bit, and the x-height is increased slightly. It was cut by Monotype for private use. One reference says there were light and medium weights; another says there were roman and italic in normal width and also an extended version. The latter account seems more authentic.
Digital descendants of Sol Hess: LTC Hess Monoblack (Lanston Type Company), Hess Old Style (Red Rooster Collection), Hess Gothic Round NF (Nicks Fonts), Twentieth Century (Monotype), LTC Squareface (Lanston Type Company), Broadway Engraved SH (Scangraphic Digital Type Collection), Bruce Old Style (Bitstream), LTC Jefferson Gothic (Lanston Type Company), LTC Spire (Lanston Type Company), LTC Swing Bold (Lanston Type Company), LTC Artscript (Lanston Type Company), LTC Twentieth Century (Lanston Type Company), LTC Tourist Gothic (Lanston Type Company), Renard Moderne NF (Nicks Fonts), Goudy Heavyface (Bitstream), Broadway (Monotype), LTC Broadway (Lanston Type Company), Broadway (Linotype), LTC Hadriano (Lanston Type Company), Cochin (Linotype), LTC Bodoni 175 (Lanston Type Company), Stymie (Bitstream), Engravers Oldstyle 205 (Bitstream), LTC Bodoni 26 (Lanston Type Company), LTC Obelysk Grotesk (Lanston Type Company), Century Gothic (Monotype), Spire (GroupType), Havel (T4), Alternate Gothic Pro Antique (Elsner+Flake). Klingspor link. FontShop link. Linotype link.
|
EXTERNAL LINKS
Sol Hess
 [Designer info]
Monotype link
MyFonts search
Monotype search
Fontspring search
Google search
INTERNAL LINKS
Type designers ⦿
Type designers ⦿
Ornamental caps typefaces ⦿
Unicase type design ⦿
Nick Curtis ⦿
Avant Garde typefaces ⦿
Modern style [Bodoni, Didot, Walbaum, Thorowgood, Computer Modern, etc.] ⦿
Cooper Black ⦿
Skyline Typefaces ⦿
Caslon ⦿
Frederic William Goudy ⦿
Art deco typefaces ⦿
Type scene in Pennsylvania ⦿
Bookman ⦿
|
