Origin uncertain. Advertised in 1882 by Robert S. Menamin, Philadelphia. [1882 ad] The 1892 Boston/Central catalog notes it as “patented”, with a patent pending on the Bold style. A similar design was issued by Inland as Extended Old Style, ft. an R where the leg doesn’t enter the counter.

Cast in Germany by AG für Schriftgießerei u. M. and Schelter & Giesecke as Mediäval breit mager. Listed with a note “Centr. Typ. F., St. Louis 1840”. [Wetzig 1926–40]

See also the even wider Old Style Expanded.