Comments on: Arboreal Typography

By: William C Bonner

William C Bonner — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:59:58 +0000

I know that it was over two years ago that Studebaker was listed here, but it just got pointed out in http://jalopnik.com/cars/retro/studebaker-pines-still-standing-311514.php and has some kind of interesting information on the company.

Back in 1937, when Studebaker was still going strong (and 85 years old at the time, going back to their wagon-building days), the company planted 5,000 pine trees at their proving grounds outside South Bend, Indiana. 41 years after the final Stude- a Cruiser- rolled off the assembly line, the trees’ message is still visible from space.

By: Duncan

Duncan — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 07:37:21 +0000

Studebaker went bust in 1966, but has been revived as Avanti Motors. Avanti originally built bespoke sports cars by that name from 1965-1991, and was then reborn from bankruptcy in 2001 to build Firebird-based and (currently) Mustang-based sports cars with the classic Avanti styling motifs.

Another company, Studebaker Motor Corporation, has a really badly-crafted web site, but they claim to be in some sort of an R&D phase on all-new Studebaker models that have nothing to do with Avanti Motors (Avanti having apparently sold off any interest in the Studebaker name and properties that they once held).

I was just looking for a picture of the Studebaker Trees originally, but there’s a history lesson for you, too!

By: E

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 03:15:31 +0000

I lived in Bismarck all my life and i never seen the “Bismarck”.

By: jl gama

jl gama — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 22:27:16 +0000

To answer a few previous posts: Northern git: Yes, this is (was) the Studebaker car company which stopped production in 1963. The Studebaker automobile was manufactured in South Bend, Indiana…about 12 miles east of the proving grounds. Check out http://www.studebakermuseum.org. The test track (2.5 mile oval) is still in use by the current owners (Bosch).
DJ Swammi: Great observations!! The switchbacks were test lanes featuring mud, sand, cobblestone, water crossing and steep grade obstacles, plus ice and snow when in-season. And yes…skidpads too. Some of the course is still in use today..especially for heavy truck and bus testing.

By: aj

aj — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 21:09:16 +0000

ok I’m retarded, replace that “hear” with a “here”.

By: aj

aj — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 21:06:25 +0000

Close to hear on the Indiana/Michigan border is another sign similar to the Studebaker type. This one spells out ST PATRICKS, it is St. Patricks County Park.

Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

By: taper_jeans

taper_jeans — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 04:24:29 +0000

Oh and by the way, I’d definitely use DIN Medium (all caps) as the typeface for my town.

By: taper_jeans

taper_jeans — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 04:23:05 +0000

I think it’s based off an actual typeface, but at a certain point they just winged it. It’s hard to replicate a font in 3-d, not to mention at such a large scale.

By: Eugene

Eugene — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:50:39 +0000

The ‘M’ and ‘A’ in ‘BISMARK’ are too different between the photo and the sample type. I think that there’s no actual font used to plant the trees.

By: DJ Swammi

DJ Swammi — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 17:52:32 +0000

Just to the West of the track there seems to be several switch-backs cut into the woods, maybe a handling course?

Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

Thare also appears to be a skid pad or two in the bottom left corner.