Before the personal computer, typography composed for display and headlines was produced by photographic means. Edward Ronthaler, a skilled typographer and chairman of the American Literacy Council adapted a step-and-repeat machine (for texture and metal printing) for photographic lettering, and in 1936 founded Photo Lettering Inc. With computers this practice was abandoned and for years the Photo-Lettering library sat in a storage facility somewhere in Manhattan. The collection was purchased by House Industries (http://www.houseind.com/), a type foundry and design studio based in Delaware. House converted many of the Photo-Lettering display texts to digital form and developed a website where you can purchase a headline/display that you set for only $7. http://www.photolettering.com/letterer/
Ben Kiel is a supplemental faculty member in the Art Department at UD and works at House Industries. If you are interested in typography he would be a good contact.
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