2 days ago
- Gorton is a monoline routing font used in engraving machines, originating from Taylor, Taylor & Hobson in 1894 and later licensed to George Gorton Machine Co.
- It is ubiquitous on keycaps, signs, intercoms, military equipment, nuclear facilities, and even the Apollo spacecraft, but remains largely unrecognized and unnamed.
- The font has many variations and names, including Leroy, Wrico, and others, and has been used for over 135 years.
- The author walked over 100 miles in Manhattan to photograph Gorton, documenting its widespread but overlooked presence.
- Gorton is characterized by its imperfect, weathered, and honest appearance, which the author finds appealing and endearing.
- The article serves as both a historical tribute and a eulogy for a disappearing font that is no longer widely used in new installations.