WeiMar 9
Does anyone know anything about the broken slash that sometimes appears in precomposed fractions – whether there was a clear first precedent, or if it goes back to metal?
Show threadAaron BellMar 9
@w__h_ the first time I recall seeing it was in Recursive but I wouldn't be surprised if it predates that
Show threadEdgar Walthert Mar 9
@sajatype @w__h_ Recursive is definitely post IBM Plex Mono, that is shown in the sample.
Let’s ask @boldmonday, if there was a historic example for this.
Show threadTriple ⁂Mar 9
@eWalthert @sajatype @w__h_ oh wow, this would be recent !?
Show threadTriple ⁂Mar 9
@eWalthert @sajatype @w__h_ not that it helps but I remember seeing it in @ohno Covik, released in 2018.
Show threadBold MondayMar 9
@triple @eWalthert @sajatype @w__h_ @ohno
Broken fraction bars were already part of Nitti (2007) before we developed IBM Plex Mono in 2016. I guess historical examples can be found in typewriter typefaces. But Pieter @cakelab is the best person to ask about this.
Show threadFlorian Hardwig
@boldmonday @triple @eWalthert @sajatype @w__h_ @ohno @cakelab Here’s an example from the realm of metal type, shown by Pittsburgh Type Founders in 1918. Not a systematic approach, but definitely fractions with broken bars.
Mar 9 at 7:56amWeb
Show threadTim AhrensMar 9
@fhardwig @boldmonday @triple @eWalthert @sajatype @w__h_ @ohno @cakelab FWIW, British road signage omits the fraction slash entirely, as in ‘1¹₂ miles’
Show threadErikMar 9
@timahrens @fhardwig @boldmonday @triple @eWalthert @sajatype @w__h_ @ohno @cakelab Barless fraction on an English roadsign, after a design by Margaret Calvert and Jock Kinneir. Photo at the Central Lettering Record, Central St Martins. https://collections.arts.ac.uk/collections/clr