Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Tangible Media: Removable Storage of Image, Sound, Motion and Data
Chemistry
Letterphot

Title:

Helvetica Breithalbfett (Wide Semi-Bold)

Date:

1970s

Material:

Plastic disc with metal hub

Dimensions:

Diameter 8 in. (203 mm)

Company:

Letterphot Gerätebau GmbH

Location:

Munich, Germany

The Letterphot was a basic headline typesetter assembled on the column and base of a photo enlarger. A head containing light sources, the font disc and a lens was attached to the column above the base. Characters were projected one at a time down onto a luminescent surface to assemble an image of the entire line. A strip of lithographic film was then placed on the luminescent surface. Each character was projected a second time and aligned with the luminescent image using light that wouldn't expose the film. Finally, the character was projected to expose the film. The film was then developed in a tray that was part of the base (Lechêne 2025;  Schmitt 1976, 70;  Goldbach 2025). (The descriptions I've found of the process are vague, so corrections or additions are welcome.)

References
⌃  Back to citationGoldbach, Philipp. 2025. Phototype. Philipp Goldbach. Accessed Apr. 30, 2025.
⌃  Back to citationLechêne, Robert. 2025. Phototypesetting. Britannica. Updated May 3, 2025.
⌃  Back to citationSchmitt, Günter. 1976. Fotosatzausbildung fuer Schriftsetzer [Phototypesetting training for typesetters]. In German. Arbeitgemeinshaft für grafische Lehrmittel [Working Group for Graphic Teaching Aids].