Originally drawn by Walter Haettenschweiler in 1954, derived
from an assignment by Ernst Keller at Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich,
and made as an improvement over Commercial-Grotesk
(Haas, 1940). No lowercase. [Swiss Type
Design] Included in Lettera vol. 1, an alphabet
source book edited by Alex Stocker and Armin Haab. Also known
simply as Schmalfette (“Bold Condensed”).
“Photoscript had made a lowercase version quite early on. Later,
they made a less condensed version and called it
Haettenschweiler Extended.” — Microsoft.
A catalog from 1968 shows Schmalfette Grotesk,
Schmalfette Outline, and Haettenschweiler
Extended, all with lowercase, and marked as Photoscript
originals. Photo-Lettering’s Swiss
Gothic (before 1965) is another phototype adaptation and
extension.
The digital Haettenschweiler More…
Originally drawn by Walter Haettenschweiler in 1954, derived from an assignment by Ernst Keller at Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich, and made as an improvement over Commercial-Grotesk (Haas, 1940). No lowercase. [Swiss Type Design] Included in Lettera vol. 1, an alphabet source book edited by Alex Stocker and Armin Haab. Also known simply as Schmalfette (“Bold Condensed”).
“Photoscript had made a lowercase version quite early on. Later, they made a less condensed version and called it Haettenschweiler Extended.” — Microsoft. A catalog from 1968 shows Schmalfette Grotesk, Schmalfette Outline, and Haettenschweiler Extended, all with lowercase, and marked as Photoscript originals. Photo-Lettering’s Swiss Gothic (before 1965) is another phototype adaptation and extension.
The digital Haettenschweiler (Ascender/Microsoft, 1993–1995) appears to be based on Photoscript’s less condensed extension. “I never received a single cent, but at least they named it after me.” — Walter Haettenschweiler
Schmalfette CP (CounterPoint Type Studio, 2016), used for the sample, is a more faithful (although likewise unauthorized) revival made by Jason Walcott at the suggestion of Rob King. Jeremy Mickel also made a custom version in 2016 for Pentagram.
