The LNER Encyclopedia

Good morning.
I'm working on a 1953 Edinburgh Summary WTT and I'm trying to identify a typeface.
It looks to be Akzidenz Grotesk but several of the characters are subtly different, particularly the 'g'. Of course, it could be because the printers (McCorqudale's in this case) used their own typeface derived from it. I'm assuming that type was still set by hand in the 50's? If anyone has printing experience and recognises it, I would appreciate any help.

Why not contact them in Derby?

That's a thought.
I've been looking further and it looks as if the presses and typefaces of the Wolverton branch were bequeathed to the Milton Keynes Museum when that branch closed so I might see if they can assist.

I did wonder at first if this was an April Fool, but searched 'Akzidenz Grotesk' and found out its provenance. This write-up does suggest that it was much emulated: https://www.creativeboom.com/features/akzidenz-grotesk/ and with variations here: https://www.myfonts.com/collections/akz ... t-berthold

I had forgotten it was April 1st!! No tomfoolery here though.
I have done some more searches and the closest I can find seems to be another 'grotesque' typeface; Franklin Gothic.
It's very similar. The differences could be just those between the different printer's typesets.

In the early 50's the type face would be on a lead type style. Either lino type produced, or brought in.
Computer type faces bear little relevance to the original stuff used by printers, they have to comply with the computer programmes,
it is therefore difficult to accurately relate them to existing stuff.
For instance sans serif on a computer certainly is not the same as that used by the LNER in 1924.
Paul

Hi John.
This is a problem I continually come across. I have found even the common Gill Sans to have differences between different printer's offerings whereas a computer will render an identical outline, time after time. I just try to find something close. I have even created my own computer 'fonts' to create what I need, especially with some of the symbols used in railway publications.