Metro in use

Released in 1929–30, the first issue of Dwiggins’ Metro typeface came in weights called Metrolite and Metroblack, later followed by Metrothin and Metromedium. This initial release was more idiosyncratic than the geometric sans serifs it was meant to challenge. It had forms like a bar-less ‘G’, descending ‘J’, ‘M’ with straight verticals, and double-story lowercase ‘a’ and ‘g’. These were changed in 1932’s Metro No. 2 to be more like Futura and the original shapes were offered as extras. [McGrew 1993]

Metro Nova (and to a looser degree, Metro Office) is a digital version that revives these forms.