Typophile

20's and 30's font ?

ehertz

Hello all, I am new to all this and am in need of identifying three fonts. One seems to be Parsons as a nice fellow assisted me with that ID. Here are the samples:

http://hamgallery.com/qsl/country/Canada/3qs.htm

http://hamgallery.com/qsl/country/Canada/3du2.htm

http://www.schmarder.com/qsl/wbt.jpg

The third one here appears extremely close to parsons. At http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/barnhartbrother/parsons/ I wonder how “modernized” this version of Parsons is from the sample link above? I know old fonts like cheltenham have been modernized into things like ITC Cheltenham, but are the older original versions available? Also, the kerning today is very different than what they could do with lead, hot or cold.

In any case, thanks in advance for any help identifying the other two fonts above!
Many regards and thanks
Eugene

Quick guess....

First link: Canadian — Reform Grotesque (extended) ?; 3QS — maybe Franklin Gothic (bold extra condensed)

The small type in the 3qs example is Cheltenham Old Style and Cheltenham Wide (don’t know of a digital version). The large type is a typical wood type grotesque. The word “CANADIAN” is Copperplate Gothic.

Some of the small type near the top in the 3DU sample is DeVinne. The only digital version I could find is this one, but it’s apparently based on a large wood type cut, not the small metal cut in your sample. I’m pretty sure the rest of the small type is an old metal font called Grasset. “A.R.R.L.” is Copperplate Gothic.

Regarding the last one, I’m also the one who identified it for you on the [T-D] list. This is about as close as you’re going to get to the original metal Parsons. There doesn’t appear to be any ITC-style design modernization.

Regarding the metal typeface Grasset (E Grasset, 1898), the two digital versions I’m aware of are Paul Lloyd’s Grantham and David Nalle’s Octavian.

For some reason I thought this forum would email me when posts were made in response to my orginal query. So I didn’t realize that I had so many responses! Thank you to everyone with this great information. You have really nailed it. Wow! Thank you.
Eugene

For ’Parsons’, Nick Curtis has a version called ’Parsnip’ that includes swash initials like your sample.

- Mike Yanega

> For some reason I thought this forum would email me when posts were made in response to my orginal query.

It used to do that. Still patiently waiting for the return of that functionality. :^/

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