4 ms·

George Gorton Machine Co engraver typefaces

38 points by fanf2 2y ago

frankus 2y ago
I assume the device these were used with was something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Proxxon-27106-PROXXON-Engraving-Device/dp/B00JVSZXF4 https://www.amazon.com/Proxxon-27106-PROXXON-Engraving-Devic...
- rx_tx 2y ago
  Exactly, they're plates to follow using a pantograph machine that will in turn engrave your piece. I love the "Himalaya" type in the article, very Art Deco. If you want a demo of a vintage one, this video from Inheritance Machining [1] is a great watch. It also shows how you can change the scale by adjusting the lever arm positions. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7am-ysvGD3s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7am-ysvGD3s
Thoreandan 2y ago
I found the Lipsum quotes used fascinating, so I looked them up: Lucky Is He Who Can Accept His Broken Sword From Fate The Conqueror, With A Manly And A Humble Heart. —William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Pendennis https://www.online-literature.com/thackeray/history-of-pendennis/60/#:~:text=Lucky https://www.online-literature.com/thackeray/history-of-pende... Trust in God, but keep your powder dry. —William Blacker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_in_God_and_keep_your_powder_dry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_in_God_and_keep_your_pow... And I if I be lifted up from the Earth, will draw all men unto me. —John 12:32 No great man ever minds stooping. —John Ruskin, The Two Paths https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7291/7291-h/7291-h.htm#:~:text=no%20great%20man https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7291/7291-h/7291-h.htm#:~:te... A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. —Proverbs 22:1 Eternal Vigilance Is The Price Of Liberty —Leonard H. Courtney https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leonard_H._Courtney https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leonard_H._Courtney Let your light so shine that men may see your good works. —Matthew 5:14 The Sun Shines Alike On Beggars & Kings —Sundial engraving, allegedly from "Inter Caesarem et Galbam Sol Ministrat Umbram" https://archive.org/details/bookofoldsundial00unse/page/45/mode/1up https://archive.org/details/bookofoldsundial00unse/page/45/m... Hitch your Wagon to a Star —Ralph Waldo Emerson, Civilization https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hitch_one%27s_wagon_to_a_star https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hitch_one%27s_wagon_to_a_star Fellow-Citizens: God reigns, and the government at washington still lives. —James Garfield, after Lincoln's assassination (alleged) https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield#Disputed https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield#Disputed Experience is the mother of science. —Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Miguel_de_Cervantes#:~:text=Experience https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Miguel_de_Cervantes#:~:text=Ex... LET US STRIKE THE iron while it is hot. —Chaucer, Canterbury Tales https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/6236476310 https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/6236476310
beardicus 2y ago
more information on these machines and their typefaces, including pictures of the machines and brochures and catalogs: http://gorton-machine.org http://gorton-machine.org
- beardicus 2y ago
  oh, and here's an article that links 'gorton normal' to many keyboard fonts including the apollo DSKY keyboard: https://newsletter.shifthappens.site/archive/a-tale-of-three-skeuomorphs/ https://newsletter.shifthappens.site/archive/a-tale-of-three...
buildsjets 2y ago
Well, this is relevant to my interests. I do a lot of CNC laser engraving and rotary milling. Unfortunately a lot of the links to the digital fonts are broken. The National Park Typeface was designed for pantograph-style engraving machines way back in the day, and still looks and works great for modern projects. I've made a few aircraft instrument panels using it. https://nationalparktypeface.com/ https://nationalparktypeface.com/ DIN 1451 is nice too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIN_1451 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIN_1451
- buildsjets 2y ago
  And the DIN article lead to this Wiki of other public signage typefaces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_public_signage_typefaces https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_public_signage_typefac...
somat 2y ago
Here is a video on the operation of the sort of machine these type sets were intended for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7am-ysvGD3s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7am-ysvGD3s (Inheritance Machining)
nerdponx 2y ago
A derivative of the Gorton typeface family (called "Gorton Modified") was famously used by Comptec for their keycaps: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/7802282838_e1079e98c2_c.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/7802282838_e1079e98c2_c.... The successor of Comptec today is Signature Plastics, and they still use that typeface on their keycaps today: https://spkeyboards.com/collections/nuclear-keycap-set https://spkeyboards.com/collections/nuclear-keycap-set

38 points by fanf2 2y ago

I assume the device these were used with was something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Proxxon-27106-PROXXON-Engraving-Device/dp/B00JVSZXF4 https://www.amazon.com/Proxxon-27106-PROXXON-Engraving-Devic...

rx_tx 2y ago
Exactly, they're plates to follow using a pantograph machine that will in turn engrave your piece. I love the "Himalaya" type in the article, very Art Deco. If you want a demo of a vintage one, this video from Inheritance Machining [1] is a great watch. It also shows how you can change the scale by adjusting the lever arm positions. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7am-ysvGD3s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7am-ysvGD3s

Thoreandan 2y ago

I found the Lipsum quotes used fascinating, so I looked them up: Lucky Is He Who Can Accept His Broken Sword From Fate The Conqueror, With A Manly And A Humble Heart. —William Makepeace Thackeray, The History of Pendennis https://www.online-literature.com/thackeray/history-of-pendennis/60/#:~:text=Lucky https://www.online-literature.com/thackeray/history-of-pende... Trust in God, but keep your powder dry. —William Blacker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_in_God_and_keep_your_powder_dry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_in_God_and_keep_your_pow... And I if I be lifted up from the Earth, will draw all men unto me. —John 12:32 No great man ever minds stooping. —John Ruskin, The Two Paths https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7291/7291-h/7291-h.htm#:~:text=no%20great%20man https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7291/7291-h/7291-h.htm#:~:te... A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. —Proverbs 22:1 Eternal Vigilance Is The Price Of Liberty —Leonard H. Courtney https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leonard_H._Courtney https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Leonard_H._Courtney Let your light so shine that men may see your good works. —Matthew 5:14 The Sun Shines Alike On Beggars & Kings —Sundial engraving, allegedly from "Inter Caesarem et Galbam Sol Ministrat Umbram" https://archive.org/details/bookofoldsundial00unse/page/45/mode/1up https://archive.org/details/bookofoldsundial00unse/page/45/m... Hitch your Wagon to a Star —Ralph Waldo Emerson, Civilization https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hitch_one%27s_wagon_to_a_star https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hitch_one%27s_wagon_to_a_star Fellow-Citizens: God reigns, and the government at washington still lives. —James Garfield, after Lincoln's assassination (alleged) https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield#Disputed https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/James_A._Garfield#Disputed Experience is the mother of science. —Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Miguel_de_Cervantes#:~:text=Experience https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Miguel_de_Cervantes#:~:text=Ex... LET US STRIKE THE iron while it is hot. —Chaucer, Canterbury Tales https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/6236476310 https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/6236476310

beardicus 2y ago

more information on these machines and their typefaces, including pictures of the machines and brochures and catalogs: http://gorton-machine.org http://gorton-machine.org

beardicus 2y ago
oh, and here's an article that links 'gorton normal' to many keyboard fonts including the apollo DSKY keyboard: https://newsletter.shifthappens.site/archive/a-tale-of-three-skeuomorphs/ https://newsletter.shifthappens.site/archive/a-tale-of-three...

buildsjets 2y ago

Well, this is relevant to my interests. I do a lot of CNC laser engraving and rotary milling. Unfortunately a lot of the links to the digital fonts are broken. The National Park Typeface was designed for pantograph-style engraving machines way back in the day, and still looks and works great for modern projects. I've made a few aircraft instrument panels using it. https://nationalparktypeface.com/ https://nationalparktypeface.com/ DIN 1451 is nice too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIN_1451 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIN_1451

buildsjets 2y ago
And the DIN article lead to this Wiki of other public signage typefaces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_public_signage_typefaces https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_public_signage_typefac...

somat 2y ago

Here is a video on the operation of the sort of machine these type sets were intended for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7am-ysvGD3s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7am-ysvGD3s (Inheritance Machining)

nerdponx 2y ago

A derivative of the Gorton typeface family (called "Gorton Modified") was famously used by Comptec for their keycaps: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/7802282838_e1079e98c2_c.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/7802282838_e1079e98c2_c.... The successor of Comptec today is Signature Plastics, and they still use that typeface on their keycaps today: https://spkeyboards.com/collections/nuclear-keycap-set https://spkeyboards.com/collections/nuclear-keycap-set