Released by Klingspor in 1927–30 in 8 styles; 4 weights (see
Kabel
Black for the heaviest one), 2 of them with italics,
2 condensed weights (see
Kabel
Condensed). [Reichardt] Zeppelin
(aka Verzierte Kabel), Prisma,
and Optik are
related display styles. Known abroad as Cable. Comes
with round
alternates for a number of caps incl. ‘AEFKMNR’. The italic is
accompanied by a set of swash initials (Geschriebene
Grotesk-Initialen). Several small revisions, e.g. ‘G’ in the
grob initially had no bar, ‘a’ got a wider roof. In 1953, all
styles were reissued with more Futura-like forms for
‘aegW7’ as Neu-Kabel. This revision was marketed
abroad as Cable perfect. [Soldans
specimen]
Monotype’s copy for the American market was called
Sans
Serif (Sol Hess, 1930–33) and was nearly identical until
it added several alternate characters mimicking other popular
geometrics like Futura and Bernhard
Gothic. [McGrew]
The More…
Released by Klingspor in 1927–30 in 8 styles; 4 weights (see Kabel Black for the heaviest one), 2 of them with italics, 2 condensed weights (see Kabel Condensed). [Reichardt] Zeppelin (aka Verzierte Kabel), Prisma, and Optik are related display styles. Known abroad as Cable. Comes with round alternates for a number of caps incl. ‘AEFKMNR’. The italic is accompanied by a set of swash initials (Geschriebene Grotesk-Initialen). Several small revisions, e.g. ‘G’ in the grob initially had no bar, ‘a’ got a wider roof. In 1953, all styles were reissued with more Futura-like forms for ‘aegW7’ as Neu-Kabel. This revision was marketed abroad as Cable perfect. [Soldans specimen]
Monotype’s copy for the American market was called Sans Serif (Sol Hess, 1930–33) and was nearly identical until it added several alternate characters mimicking other popular geometrics like Futura and Bernhard Gothic. [McGrew]
The phototype era brought various interpretations — both licensed and pirated —, most notably ITC Kabel. Letraset’s Kabel adaptation was sometimes named Cable.
Bitstream’s version is Geometric 231. Neue Kabel (Linotype, 2016) is a reinterpretation designed by Marc Schütz. Kabella (J. Penner, 2017) is a digitization of the swash initials.
