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Wilhelm Rixen Maschinenbau, Hamburg-Ottensen

Contributed by Florian Hardwig on Apr 8th, 2015.
The company on Völckersstraße in Hamburg-Ottensen was established in 1929 as a repair shop for valves. In World War II, it shifted toward machine construction.
Source: www.flickr.com Photo: Florian Hardwig. License: All Rights Reserved.

The company on Völckersstraße in Hamburg-Ottensen was established in 1929 as a repair shop for valves. In World War II, it shifted toward machine construction.

The bold unruly script letters above the door to Wilhelm Rixen Maschinenbau look very much like an ad hoc creation, i.e. not typographic — and indeed they are custom-made. Still this is a case for Fonts In Use: The letterforms are unmistakably modeled after a typeface. In this case it is Slogan, see the comparison below. Its shapes were translated quite amateurishly (also note the off-center position of the sign), but all the distinctive features are preserved.

Slogan was designed by Helmut Matheis and released by Ludwig & Mayer in 1958. His Charme (1957) is similar, but a tad lighter. The sample above combines URW’s digitization (1994) with the ‘W’ from Corrida (ParaType, 1989). Latter is the only digital version to feature Slogan’s round alternate ‘W’.
License: All Rights Reserved.

Slogan was designed by Helmut Matheis and released by Ludwig & Mayer in 1958. His Charme (1957) is similar, but a tad lighter. The sample above combines URW’s digitization (1994) with the ‘W’ from Corrida (ParaType, 1989). Latter is the only digital version to feature Slogan’s round alternate ‘W’.

Wilhelm Rixen Maschinenbau, Hamburg-Ottensen 3
Source: www.flickr.com Photo: Florian Hardwig. License: All Rights Reserved.
These gilded letters were reverse-painted on glass. They likely predate the larger sign and are a much better example for the art of sign-painting. No typeface was involved.
Source: www.flickr.com Photo: Florian Hardwig. License: All Rights Reserved.

These gilded letters were reverse-painted on glass. They likely predate the larger sign and are a much better example for the art of sign-painting. No typeface was involved.

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  • Slogan

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1 Comment on “Wilhelm Rixen Maschinenbau, Hamburg-Ottensen”

  1. According to Inside Ottensen, the building has been demolished in the meantime, to make space for luxury lofts.

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