Originated at Wagner & Schmidt and cast by L. Wagner as Ekkehard in 1903 [Archiv für Buchgewerbe] and apparently as Roland in 1904 [Reichardt]. Also cast by other foundries, under various names: Ekkehard (C.E. Weber), Gutenberg (Brötz & Glock/Poppelbaum), Herold (Orgelbranda), International (Rust), Meteor (Trennert/Zanker), Robusta (Società Augusta), Triumph (Roos & Junge). [Reichardt]

In a review for Archiv für Buchgewerbe, issue 5, 1903, “Chronos” complained about the similarities to Eckmann. [Kupferschmid]