magnet type

Nel Sarabande’s typographic and design history area, una breve nota sul Magnet Type di Lucian Bernhard, da cui cito un passo: “His Magnet Type, developed in the late 40s, preceded the invention of the Phototypositor lettering machine. His invention utilized letters pasted onto magnets. These letters were then positioned on a white metal background. After the letters were perfectly arranged the board was photographed. All the cut marks were carefully opaqued and a photographic print made. This strange hybrid--a cross between a Ouija board and refrigerator magnets--allowed for more flexibility in typography than was possible using methods based on typecast foundry type. It worked, but was far too labor intensive for widespread adoption”.

Su Bernhard:
“Proto-Modernist” by Steven Heller