The Manufacture of Type for Typewriters in Switzerland

Projects

The Manufacture of Type for Typewriters in Switzerland

Between the 1940s and the 1990s, three companies manufactured type components for typewriters in Switzerland: Caractères SA, Setag and Novatype. During more than fifty years, they supplied the biggest manufacturers of office machines in Europe and around the world, such as IBM, Remington, Olivetti, Paillard-Hermès or Triumph-Adler. Having held a leading position worldwide, the three manufacturers played a key role in the design, development, and production of type components and typefaces for typewriters, as well as for all kinds of impact printers.

Research project (2024) with Sophie Wietlisbach

Know-how
Type design

By looking in details at their production methods, the research observes what influence did the manufacturing processes and the mechanical characteristics of the typewriter have on the design of the typefaces. Additionally, it takes interest into the surprising role played by the criminal police. Specialized in the dating and identification of typewriter typefaces for judicial and criminal purposes, forensic experts developed over the years specific methods and compiled rich documentations on typewriter typefaces. Being in direct contact with the type manufacturers to gain first-hand information, they even interfered in the design of some lettershapes. Based on oral history and archival research, this project aims to shed light on this little-known part of the industrial and typographic history.

Main applicant

Sophie Wietlisbach, researcher

Research team

Davide Fornari, scientific supervisor
Roland Früh, scientific supervisor

Period

01.01.2023–31.12.2024

Supported by

ECAL / University of Art and Design, internal research grant
DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion, DNP Graphic Culture Research Grant 

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Measurement of the height of a typewriter typeface with a magnification tool. © ECAL/Sophie Wietlisbach
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Digging through the Federal Archives in Bern. © ECAL/Sophie Wietlisbach
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IBM Typeball produced by Setag. ©ECAL/Sophie Wietlisbach

Projects related to Type design

Type Design BA3 – S1 25–26

BA GRAPHIC DESIGN

Type Design BA3 – S1 25–26

with Aurèle Sack

The third-year students had to develop a typeface and digitize it.
Type Design - BA1 S1 2025-2026

BA GRAPHIC DESIGN

Type Design - BA1 S1 2025-2026

with Robert Huber

First-year students were invited to manually sketch the typographic skeleton of lowercase alphabet letters. The objective was to maintain the proportions, curves, and characteristic axes of each letter while paying close attention to visual coherence and consistency in the drawing.
Type Design BA2 – S2 2026

BA GRAPHIC DESIGN

Type Design BA2 – S2 2026

with Aurèle Sack

Second-year students were required to develop the whole alphabet for one typeface.
Type Design - BA1 S2 2025-2026

BA GRAPHIC DESIGN

Type Design - BA1 S2 2025-2026

with Robert Huber

The creation of a logotype involves establishing a distinct visual identity, embedded in a clearly defined universe. First-year Graphic Design students designed a fully hand-drawn logotype, connected to a subject, a concept, or an environment of their own choice. This work was based on thorough research in typographic archives. Each student compiled a reference notebook and developed a set of specimens, in order to enrich and structure their graphic and formal thinking.
Type Design BA2 – S1 2025

BA GRAPHIC DESIGN

Type Design BA2 – S1 2025

with Aurèle Sack

Second-year students were required to manually develop the lowercase letters of two typefaces.

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