Your Computer magazine
![Issue no. 2 from July 1981. The white text at the bottom is an unidentified typeface similar to . I wonder if it’s related to . [edit: identified by Bryson as Black Condensed]](https://original.fontsinuse.com/fontsinuse.com/use-images/N283/283109/283109.jpeg)
Issue no. 2 from July 1981. The white text at the bottom is an unidentified typeface similar to Futura Extra Bold Condensed. I wonder if it’s related to Heraldus. [edit: identified by Bryson as Tempo Black Condensed]
Motter Tektura is the logo typeface for Your Computer. The Australian monthly home computing magazine “for business and pleasure” ran from May/June 1981 to May/June 1997. From 1977 to 1984, Othmar Motter’s typeface was also used for the logo of the Apple Computer Inc., likewise in all-lowercase letters.
Initially edited by Les Bell and published by the White House Publishing Group under licence from Motorword Pty Ltd., Your Computer was typeset by Hughes Phototype, Mosman. and printed by The Lithgo Centre, Waterloo. Barry Brady served as the magazine’s first art director. In 1982, he was superseded by Michelle Mabbott. Rolf Hagenmaier filled this role in 1993.
By 1994, the logo had been redrawn (almost) beyond recognition.
You can browse many digitized issues in the Internet Archive.
Motter Tektura was also used as headline typeface on interior pages. Here’s the table of contents from no. 5, November 1981.
June 1982, with ITC Korinna in a starburst for the “Big Birthday Issue”. The logo got a contour.
October 1982, ft. Dynamo Shadow for “16 Bits – A Revolution?”
May 1983
June 1983
September 1983
“Learning With Your Computer” special issue, 1986, with a shaded logo version and ITC Avant Garde Gothic
February 1993. The claim below the logo now reads “Making your micro work”.
2 Comments on “Your Computer magazine”
The unidentified typeface is Tempo Black Condensed.
Aaah, that’s it! Thanks, Bryson.
In my search, I had briefly considered Tempo, because of the G that has both a vertical section and a bar to the left. But my mistake was to only look at the (digital) Tempo Heavy Condensed – I figured that, with the double-story a and tailed t, it can’t be it. Of course I shouldn’t have underestimated the grown mess that is the Tempo family. At least by default, the Black Condensed does have a single-story a and a straight t …
And now I also know how that 1950s Ludlow face ended up on a 1980s cover: it’s one of three Tempo styles that were adapted for photosetting by VGC, see their 1973 catalog.