In order to ensure that documents that I OCR from old AP’s have the right look and feel , I wonder if anyone has knowledge or a reference to the type or font used in RAF publications?
I have found a reference in a modern publication that may well shed light on the answer.
AvP 70 Specifications for air technical publications (June 2003)
Specification 1 Chapter 3 TOPIC 3A – AIRCRAFT ILLUSTRATED PARTS CATALOGUE
TYPE SIZE
Unless the catalogue is to be reproduced as microfiche (when the minimum type size, excluding ascenders and descenders, shall be 1.8 mm) the size of print used for the text shall be governed by the necessity to accommodate reference numbers and part numbers on a single line within the appropriate columns to the maximum extent possible, or to limit the bulk of large catalogues. This shall normally be approximately equivalent to standard elite typewriter size reduced by not more than 1/3, except by agreement with the Publications Authority.
Reference is made to “standard elite typewriter”.
You can purchase a font called “typewriter elite”. See attached thumbnail.
This compares well to the fonts used in some 1920’s, 1040’s, AP’s as well as the body text in a 1960’s AP1086 book I have. There are a number of other ones, particularly in the AP1086 for which I would like to identify.
If anyone has any information on this subject I would like to hear from you.
By: gregv - 18th November 2006 at 02:06
here’s a start:
cheers & good luck
gv
By: aircraftclocks - 17th November 2006 at 23:51
Def Stan fonts
I have found a reference in one of the UK defence standards on the fonts to be used in UK defence standards
Defence Standard 00-00 Part 2, Issue 2 Publication Date 30 July 1999 has the following section:
Part No: 2: Presentation and Management of Defence Standards
41.6 Font:
a. the default font shall be Times New Roman;
b. the default size shall be 12pt;
c. the default style shall be regular;
d. the default colour shall be black;
e. the security classification markings and draft headings shall be 18pt bold;
f. the front cover markings shall be 24pt bold;
g. in tables, illustrations and indexes the font size may be reduced to 10pt if it
enhances presentation and makes the best use of available space;
h. font sizes below 10pt shall not be used without the prior agreement of DStan.
While this covers current publications and gives an insight as what they may have been in the past, any other references to UK military publication presentation standards over the years would be appreciated.
By: Moggy C - 1st October 2006 at 11:22
In those days the fonts would have been hot metal set.
Almost certainly they would have used a Linotype machine, so I’d suggest that one of their typefaces would have been employed.
Moggy
By: dhfan - 1st October 2006 at 06:54
I have absolutely no idea, but it looks very similar to the standard Windows “courier” font.
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October 1, 2006 at 3:52 am