Fonts for dial labels - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Mister C · 28th Jul 2009, 4:37 pm

Hi, I'm new to this forum and just awaiting delivery of a couple of old 746 phones which I'm hoping to clean up and convert. While I'm waiting I've been reading my way through the various posts to find out what I'm letting myself in for....

I was looking at one of the posts regarding dial labels (https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=19266) which includes a printable jpeg, and I thought I'd share with you the following page from which you can download a selection of 'typewriter' fonts to superimpose the exchange/number information:

http://woork.blogspot.com/2008/08/10...s-for-web.html

I've had a play with some of them, and 'Telegraphem' and 'Underwood' look reasonably authentic.

(To install the fonts in Windows, go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Fonts, and then just drag and drop the .ttf files into there. Easiest way to put the wording onto the label for printing if you've got Microsoft Word is to paste the jpeg into a new document, then create a text box and position it over the bottom half of the jpeg).

Hope this is useful to some of you!

Mister C · 28th Jul 2009, 5:13 pm

Here's what they look like.....

http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/c00/labels.jpg

Nickthedentist · 28th Jul 2009, 6:08 pm

Hello Mister C, and welcome!

That's a very useful source of unusual fonts, thank you for pointing them out to us.

The style isn't quite right for the dial labels, but is loads better than most of us would have at hand on our computers.

Note that the area code was often printed with the rest of the label (in light grey), whereas the actual number was applied afterwards (in black).

Also note that it was usual to capitalise the first three letters of the exchange name, to indicate that those letters had to be dialled to reach it, e.g. WHItehall, WIMbledon, etc.

Nick.

Darren-UK · 28th Jul 2009, 10:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

Also note that it was usual to capitalise the first three letters of the exchange name, to indicate that those letters had to be dialled to reach it, e.g. WHItehall, WIMbledon, etc.

Nick.

Ah, be careful here. The first three letters were capitalised in Director area directories, but not necessarily on dial labels.

Nickthedentist · 28th Jul 2009, 10:14 pm

Ah, thanks Darren

Darren-UK · 28th Jul 2009, 11:22 pm

Sorry about the atrocious quality (lighting and all that) but I've attached two images of original London Director area labels. These are on a 162 and a 328. Note the similar style font for the names, but slightly differing style for the numbers.

The OP is, however, talking about 746's. These came out in what, 1967? and London went over to the 01 STD code in 1971 I think? If those dates are correct there probably wasn't that many 746's issued in the Director areas bearing labels with exchange names on them.

For the possible benefit of Mister C, this page shows examples of provincial 700 series labels. Note how fonts vary quite widely. It should also be noted that if you wish to have a label displaying the name of a Director exchange, such as Whitehall, then the telephone instrument should also have an alpha-numeric dial or one of those alpha-numeric rings which fit around the outside of the dial. A standard numeric (only) 746 would look rather daft bearing a Director label. This is, assuming from post #1 that this is what you intend doing.

mawdsjeff · 29th Jul 2009, 7:17 am

I have found that Gill Sans 10 or 12 point, bold is very authentic for the exchange names. the older red dial 999 labels had the exchange first 3 letters in Capital ..TERminus... and the grey labels only had the first letter in Capitals....Mayfair

Mister C · 29th Jul 2009, 1:31 pm

Many thanks for the responses and for the advice - there's obviously a vast wealth of knowledge on this forum.

I suspected that the fonts may not prove 100% 'authentic' but as Nick says above, it's a lot better than the standard fonts I could find on my PC.

Thanks also for pointing out my 'exchange name' faux pas

This is something I hadn't given any thought to, so I'll bear it in mind.

One of the phones I'm hoping to convert is a two-tone green model which is the same colour that we had at home when I was a kid - probably late seventies/early eighties, although I can't remember exactly when it arrived. I can, however, remember the excitement at having a coloured phone rather than a grey or black one!

28th Jul 2009, 5:13 pm	#2
Mister C Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London, UK. Posts: 25	Re: Fonts for dial labels Here's what they look like..... http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c266/c00/labels.jpg

28th Jul 2009, 6:08 pm	#3
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,872	Re: Fonts for dial labels Hello Mister C, and welcome! That's a very useful source of unusual fonts, thank you for pointing them out to us. The style isn't quite right for the dial labels, but is loads better than most of us would have at hand on our computers. Note that the area code was often printed with the rest of the label (in light grey), whereas the actual number was applied afterwards (in black). Also note that it was usual to capitalise the first three letters of the exchange name, to indicate that those letters had to be dialled to reach it, e.g. WHItehall, WIMbledon, etc. Nick.

28th Jul 2009, 10:14 pm	#5
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,872	Re: Fonts for dial labels Ah, thanks Darren

28th Jul 2009, 11:22 pm	#6
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Fonts for dial labels Sorry about the atrocious quality (lighting and all that) but I've attached two images of original London Director area labels. These are on a 162 and a 328. Note the similar style font for the names, but slightly differing style for the numbers. The OP is, however, talking about 746's. These came out in what, 1967? and London went over to the 01 STD code in 1971 I think? If those dates are correct there probably wasn't that many 746's issued in the Director areas bearing labels with exchange names on them. For the possible benefit of Mister C, this page shows examples of provincial 700 series labels. Note how fonts vary quite widely. It should also be noted that if you wish to have a label displaying the name of a Director exchange, such as Whitehall, then the telephone instrument should also have an alpha-numeric dial or one of those alpha-numeric rings which fit around the outside of the dial. A standard numeric (only) 746 would look rather daft bearing a Director label. This is, assuming from post #1 that this is what you intend doing. Attached Thumbnails

29th Jul 2009, 7:17 am	#7
mawdsjeff Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Waterlooville, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 10	Re: Fonts for dial labels I have found that Gill Sans 10 or 12 point, bold is very authentic for the exchange names. the older red dial 999 labels had the exchange first 3 letters in Capital ..TERminus... and the grey labels only had the first letter in Capitals....Mayfair

28th Jul 2009, 4:37 pm	#1
Mister C Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London, UK. Posts: 25	Fonts for dial labels Hi, I'm new to this forum and just awaiting delivery of a couple of old 746 phones which I'm hoping to clean up and convert. While I'm waiting I've been reading my way through the various posts to find out what I'm letting myself in for.... I was looking at one of the posts regarding dial labels (https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=19266) which includes a printable jpeg, and I thought I'd share with you the following page from which you can download a selection of 'typewriter' fonts to superimpose the exchange/number information: http://woork.blogspot.com/2008/08/10...s-for-web.html I've had a play with some of them, and 'Telegraphem' and 'Underwood' look reasonably authentic. (To install the fonts in Windows, go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Fonts, and then just drag and drop the .ttf files into there. Easiest way to put the wording onto the label for printing if you've got Microsoft Word is to paste the jpeg into a new document, then create a text box and position it over the bottom half of the jpeg). Hope this is useful to some of you!

29th Jul 2009, 1:31 pm	#8
Mister C Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London, UK. Posts: 25	Re: Fonts for dial labels Many thanks for the responses and for the advice - there's obviously a vast wealth of knowledge on this forum. I suspected that the fonts may not prove 100% 'authentic' but as Nick says above, it's a lot better than the standard fonts I could find on my PC. Thanks also for pointing out my 'exchange name' faux pas This is something I hadn't given any thought to, so I'll bear it in mind. One of the phones I'm hoping to convert is a two-tone green model which is the same colour that we had at home when I was a kid - probably late seventies/early eighties, although I can't remember exactly when it arrived. I can, however, remember the excitement at having a coloured phone rather than a grey or black one!