It was Simon who first tipped me off about The Guardian this week (thanks Simon and also David who followed very soon after) and later sent me a scan of his remarkable ruler, about which he says:
"The folding-ruler...reminded me of similar measurement-based typographical delight when I once visited the UK's foremost manufacturer of rulers and tape measures, Rabone Chesterman (an amalgamation of two long-standing - C18 - firms in Birmingham and Sheffield). They made a huge variety of superbly detailed steel rulers (amongst other things) with really sharp crisp lettering. I was particularly taken by one done for export to America, with imperial/metric on one side, and an astonishing number of weird and wonderful measures on the other (see scan). One perk enjoyed by the finishing department was the permission to sell on the few 'seconds', rulers which for one reason or another didn't come up to scratch. Before selling on, these had the company name ground out - a case of lost rather than found type? (I'm not going to land anyone at the firm in trouble; the place was raised to the ground about 15 years ago to be replaced by a dull office block bolted onto the old facade to house insurers). An inveterate scrounger they let me take an example of each away with me, and I've used the smaller of the two just about every working day since."
You've got to love "Just a hair" which for a while I suspected was a bit of digital trickery but believe it to be a genuine if surprising feature of the device. Perhaps someone will tell me it's a legitimate unit of measure for something.
Continuing last week's toilet theme, Loïc from Bureau L'Imprimante sent me a link that took me to this French public urinal on Thierry Weyd's blog. Loïc very kindly translates Theirry's text:
"In his text, he [Theirry] explains how great slate (ardoise) can be, especially to pee on (or for anything in the bathroom to tell the truth). He also points out the similarities between this AAA thing, and the KKK iconography."
David's been routing through his Gran's cupboards (while her back was turned I'll wager) and discovered these old chestnuts.
I have a suspicion that the Quality Street tin was actually designed (well before my time) at Hurlston's in Birmingham, the now defunct Design Company where I cut my teeth, whilst the Soap Flakes and Starch packs were clearly the main source of influence for Sanna Annukka's acclaimed artwork for last year's, liked by some, Keane album.
As ever, many thanks for going out of your way to send stuff in. Loïc says he's got some more things to send (looking forward to it) and if anyone else would like to join in, do please email your found type through.
That soap stuff is lovely.
Posted by: Ben | 27 January 2007 at 09:40 AM
The ruler pictured above was part of a series of very clever design objects created in the 90’s by New York’s M&Co, the studio owned by the late – and great – Tibor Kalman. Objects such as slightly subversive watches, umbrellas and paper weights were originally studio promotions, then were sold in select stores, and have become highly sought-after collectibles!
Posted by: Mariana Ochs | 27 January 2007 at 06:23 PM
Thanks for the info Mariana!
Posted by: Richard | 27 January 2007 at 10:50 PM
Not sure why I never made the connection! Now I'm cursing as I could probably have grabbed a handful. I assume they must have supplied the order and just had a pile left at the factory.
Posted by: simon robinson | 02 February 2007 at 07:45 PM