BZ from the lead time Photo: Oliver Ohmann
By Oliver Ohmann
Peter and I met recently. Pure random. We got talking and it turned out that Peter also worked at BZ until his well-deserved retirement.
Not as a reporter, but “behind the scenes”. Just as important, because newspapers also have to be typeset, distributed and marketed.
A few weeks later we meet again. Peter reaches into his pocket and says, “Got something for you, little paperweight.”
I widen my eyes. An original BZ letter from hot lead typesetting. Weighs 50 grams, you can still see the red printing ink.
Font size 1 cm Photo: Oliver Ohmann
The two curved letters have been around since 1904. At that time, the “Berliner Zeitung”, founded in 1877, became BZ am Mittag. The painter, press draftsman and graphic artist Carl Schnebel designed the logo. It became the hallmark of the fastest newspaper in the world.
I honor that, Peter. In this way, many thanks for the block letters. And the next round in “Alt-Berlin” is on me!