Comments on: Fun Old Stuff

By: John Holbo

John Holbo — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:39:09 +0000

“Perhaps he could have gotten the publisher to spring for a letterer?”

I neither fully understand nor, to any degree, endorse Kidd’s choice of Gotham. He points out that it wasn’t hand lettered in the original. So hiring a hand-letterer wouldn’t have ‘preserved’ anything. Fair enough. I guess the alternative would have been to mimic crappy typesetting – whatever the original was like. But I suppose it’s fair to point out that it’s not clear what Latin font or face is ‘equal’ to the original. Serif? Sans-serif? I would have gone for some nice Blambot-style hand-lettering-mimicking toupee of a font.

By: Charles S

Charles S — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:03:18 +0000

Chip Kidd is responsible. He writes that he doesn’t like handwriting fonts, which he thinks ‘look like bad toupes’.

Perhaps he could have gotten the publisher to spring for a letterer? I doubt they cost much these days.

By: ben wolfson

ben wolfson — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 07:28:15 +0000

I agree with onymous.

By: onymous

onymous — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:19:10 +0000

Holy shit! That Victor Hugo art is amazing.

By: John Holbo

John Holbo — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:31:35 +0000

“It’s a shame the typeface is so lame, though.”

Yeah, I have to agree with that. Chip Kidd is responsible. He writes that he doesn’t like handwriting fonts, which he thinks ‘look like bad toupes’. But Gotham – although a cute font name joke – is not a good choice for this book.

Thanks for solving the mystery of the Mather Work Incentive poster, Adam!

By: Aunt FLo

Aunt FLo — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:02:23 +0000

There are a load of those Mather Work Incentives here.

I recognise one on the second page from behind Larry David’s desk in CYE.

By: Ginger Yellow

Ginger Yellow — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:43:13 +0000

Bat Manga! is awesome. It’s a shame the typeface is so lame, though.

By: Robert Hanks

Robert Hanks — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:11:16 +0000

It’s by Willard Frederic Elmes, and it’s one of a series called Mather Work Incentive posters, printed in Chicago in the Twenties.

By: ingrid robeyns

ingrid robeyns — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:07:44 +0000

I was in a car sharing system for many years and have seen many different types of arguments (well, slogans) but this one really beats all of them. If someone would have told me that this poster was ever made, I would not have believed them, not even for a second.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:16:57 +0000

Unevaluated information from the Interweb:
ONE IRON IN THE FIRE, LET’S HIT WHILE IT’S HOT lithograph in colours, 1929, printed by Mather & Co., Chicago, minor nicks and tears 44×36in. (112×92cm.).
From: http://www.invaluable.com

By: roy belmont

roy belmont — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:15:13 +0000

Undercutting the ex-WoW goldfarmers and their keepers by offering noble companionship, for free. @LoC

By: rea

rea — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:15:43 +0000

Is Japanese Batman supposed to be an avatar of Jesus? He resuurected himself with the strength of righteousness . . .

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:30:26 +0000

I imagine a Disneyesque outline of A Nerd beneath STAY STRONG FOR TLÖN.

I remember that one, but it wasn’t just a nerd – it was definitely Joe Chip.

By: Adam Roberts

Adam Roberts — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:15:14 +0000

On the ‘one iron in the fire’ poster: this site suggests it was one of a series of general ‘on the job’ posters; nothing so specific as strike-busting, just generalised ‘buck your ideas up, workers!’ wall decor. Other slogans include: ‘Warning! Consider the possible consequences if you are careless in your work’; ‘The Perfect Finish, No jobs done till it’s ALL done, only full days make full records’ and my favourite ‘Wish or Work?, Those who really want a thing always work till they get it.’ ‘One Iron in the Fire, Those who mind their own business always have the most business to mind’ fits very neatly in that company.

By: Rich Puchalsky

Rich Puchalsky — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:29:54 +0000

Wait, though—could poor starving third-worlders really get the ironic appeal right? Surely this is one of those jobs that can’t really be outsourced. Only real Americans can make real fake American hipster gear. We’re #1! U.S.A.!, U! S! A! Excuse me.