“Designed by Morris F. Benton and issued by ATF in 1910. One
story says that it was drawn in the early 1900s and sent to the
foundry without a name […], but that further work on it was
continually pushed aside, until it became known as ‘that old hobo’
[…] The working name was Adface. Hobo was
also cut by Intertype in three sizes. Light Hobo was
[…] released by ATF in 1915”. — McGrew. Peter Zelchenko offers
a different explanation for the name, suggesting it was
inspired by a
Russian tobacco poster with the word НОВО, the Cyrillic
spelling of Novo (“New”).
Photo-Lettering offered Hobo in 4 weights plus 7
variations (c. 1967), incl.
Outline, Outline Shade, Bas Relief, Contour, and Handtooled styles.
Headliners’ version also spanned 4 weights plus Outline and Shadow
styles More…
“Designed by Morris F. Benton and issued by ATF in 1910. One story says that it was drawn in the early 1900s and sent to the foundry without a name […], but that further work on it was continually pushed aside, until it became known as ‘that old hobo’ […] The working name was Adface. Hobo was also cut by Intertype in three sizes. Light Hobo was […] released by ATF in 1915”. — McGrew. Peter Zelchenko offers a different explanation for the name, suggesting it was inspired by a Russian tobacco poster with the word НОВО, the Cyrillic spelling of Novo (“New”).
Photo-Lettering offered Hobo in 4 weights plus 7 variations (c. 1967), incl. Outline, Outline Shade, Bas Relief, Contour, and Handtooled styles. Headliners’ version also spanned 4 weights plus Outline and Shadow styles (some with descenders).
There are numerous digitizations, by Linotype/Adobe (1987–2002, based on the ITC version?), Bitstream (1990–1993, extended by Tilde), The Font Company, and URW++/Elsner+Flake. URW’s version (1994) is the only one to feature more than 1 style (Regular, Bold, Initials, Outline, Relief).
James Edmondson’s Hobeaux (2015) is a homage and extension.
