[texhax] Times New Roman font

[William Adams]

On Sunday, December 18, 2005, at 03:13 PM, Brian Jasper wrote:

> I have a question relating to the "Times New Roman" (TNR) font type.
>
> Can you tell me where I can find out what TNR looked like before 
> Microsoft introduced their version in 1992. My understanding is that 
> TNR (Monotype corp), after its introduction in 1933, looked identical 
> to the "Times Roman" (TR) font from Linotype, since Linotype made the 
> typeset machines for the Times Newspaper. However, when Apple Inc, 
> adopted TR in the late 80's, did they preserve the exact identity of 
> the original.
>
> To give an example, the modern TR capital "C", has a downward pointing 
> serf at the top right of the C which has a vertical face. On the 
> modern TNR font used in Microsoft Word, this serf is sloping forward.
>
> Therefore, my question is, what did TNR look like pre 1992 before 
> Microsoft released their version?
>
> If you are unable to answer this question, then I would be grateful if 
> advise me who I might contact to gain an answer.

It's more complicated than that.

Walter Tracy covers the older backstory in good detail in his wonderful 
book _Letters of Credit_ which you should be able to find at any decent 
library or through inter-library loan.

There's been a bit of controversy on this since, check the journal for 
the APHA for an interesting take on it.

The more recent bit was addressed by Dr. Chuck Bigelow in a set of 
postings to usenet:comp.fonts and the TYPO-L mailing list. In short, 
Monotype did a metrically-compatible set of Times and Helvetica for IBM 
and Microsoft chose to license them having just lost a trademark 
lawsuit to Linotype.

William

-- 
William Adams
senior graphic designer
Fry Communications


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