Media Websites

Hunt for Gill Sans...

Anyone else besides the BBC (September 2003)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
LO
Londoner
I think you need to read up about Eric Gill:

www.identifont.com/show?12W

Apparently Gill Sans was originally produced for the London & North Eastern Railway.

Also try:

www.google.com/search?q=%22eric+gill%22+%22gill+sans%22
AP
AdamP
Gill Sans also used to be used on the London Underground. A few years ago, they decided to change to a slightly amended version of it, which to my mind isn't nearly as good.
LO
Londoner
No, the London Transport/TfL font is Johnston, not Gill Sans

In the 1980s they moved to a modernised version, New Johnston, which what is used now by TfL.

Eric Gill was a pupil of Edward Johnston, hence the close similarities between Johnston and Gill Sans.

The capitals are very similar, but the lower-case is quite different

http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/johnston.png
JI
Jim1701
I am not sure about this...
But when I saw the maiden voyage of the new Queen Mary 2 cruise ship on television,
I think the name at the bow of the ship had the Gill Sans font.

Can someone confirm?

Wink
Jim1701

8 days later

EH
Ed Hammond
That's interesting.

I'd always been under the impression that the Johnston font in use now was the same one as from 1916.

It's certainly very difficult noticing the differences. How widespread is the new version, considering that the vast majority of the signs on the network seem to be pre-1985?

It doesn't surprise me that Gill Sans is in use all over the place - it's nice, simple, and easy to read, as are all variations on that style of font.
LO
Londoner
All leaflets and posters use New Johnston, as does most signage.

Some of the older WAY OUT signs etc in all caps are in Johnson.

From http://www.publiclettering.org.uk/Undergroundstation.php -
Quote:
The typeface most associated with London Transport actually pre—dates it. Commissioned by Frank Pick in 1916, it was drawn up by Edward Johnston. It was the first sans serif to depart from the prevailing grotesque pattern and has proportions based on Roman sources. When typesetting technologies and typographic fashions changed in the late 1970s there was talk of replacing the face but Colin Banks of Banks & Miles suggested that a re—drawn version would preserve ‘the hand writing of London’ as well as address the technological issues. New Johnston appeared in 1980, has an enlarged x—height and is used in slightly heavier weights than the original.

Station signage now uses the system designed by Henrion, Ludlow & Schmidt using the New Johnston typeface: apart from station names all signage is now upper & lower-case.

Newer posts