Collective entry for a design with horizontal contrast distinguished by concave and bracketed serifs, and decorated variants thereof.

Conner showed a foundry version with lowercase under the name Mansard – referencing mansard roofs – with Mansard Shaded (i.e. contoured) style, patented Nov. 19, 1872. [c.1873 specimen] Used for the sample.

First shown in wood in 1879 and patented Nov. 2, 1880 (w/o lowercase) [patent], by William Hamilton Page who sold it as No. 121. [RRK] No. 122 is decorated with screw heads, a variation first shown in 1879 by William H. Page & Co [P22] Both versions eventually had a lowercase, which is different from Conner’s. [Kelly 1969] Page made a streamer version in 1882. “Other manufacturers offered the positive version as well: Hamilton No 167, Morgans & Wilcox Keystone [3208] […] and Heber Wells Mansard [5205].” [RRK]

Headliners had two styles as part of the Morgan Press Collection: W-107 (solid, all caps) and F-264 (contoured, w/ lc). [Headliners 1964]

Photo-Lettering had seven styles: Mansard (w/ contour, a.k.a. Xenotype 3794) [PLINC 1965], M. Block (solid), M. Block Condensed, M. Block Shaded (open and shaded), all w/ lc, plus three outlined and partly filled all-caps variants; M. Pointed A, B, and Alternating. [PLINC One Liner 1971] Mansard Block largely matches Page’s No. 121, except for the ‘A’ with bifurcated top.

Lettergraphics had Corral (w/ lc; largely identical to PLINC’s). Their Slim Dandy is a related design. [Lettergraphics 1970]

VGC had the caps-only Helvin (w/ screw heads) and Helvin Black (solid). Adopted from type in the T.J. Lyons Collection. Matches the Page version. [VGC 1972] Listed by Solotype as Helven Ornate and Helven. [Solo 1992]

Letraset released their version for dry transfer lettering as Rodeo in the Letragraphica range in 1972. [Letraslut] Largely identical to PLINC’s. Phil’s had a phototype adaptation. [Phil’s Photo 1985] Solotype additionally had Rodeo Condensed (no lc) and Rodeo Tablet (= Streamer No 36).

Digitally revived by Tim Ryan as Helvin (Helvin Black w/ lc; Type Revivals, 1990s). Helene Hiss (Soft Horizons) is a clone of Helvin Black. A Helene Hiss Bolted was added by Character. [Solopedia]

James Grieshaber’s HWT Archimedes (Hamilton Wood Type Foundry, 2017) comes in a solid style plus four ornamented ones with different screwhead types and has a wide language support.

Other digital interpretations include OPTI Rodeo (Castcraft, 1990–1991), 57 Rodeo (Baseline Fonts, 2002), Red Dog Saloon and the spurred Go West (FontMesa, 2002/2006, w/ additional Open and Fill styles), and Iraan NF (Nick’s Fonts, 2007, caps only, with stars-and-stripes treatment).

Wood Type Customs offers a wood type version.