Haas Type Foundry

Haas traces its origins back to the printer Jean Exertier who began casting type during the second half of the 16th century, later passing to the Genath family. In 1718, Johann Wilhelm Haas (1698–1764) from Nuremberg was hired. He later inherited the company as recognition of his efforts. After 1740, the business was run under the Haas name. In 1927 the Stempel Foundry acquired a shareholding in the Haas foundry and the two foundries begin to share matrices. Haas purchased the French foundries Deberny & Peignot in 1972, and Fonderie Olive in 1978. With Linotype’s acquisition of the D. Stempel AG in 1985, they became the majority shareholder. In 1989, Linotype shut down the Haas Foundry, retaining the rights to the typefaces, and transferring metal typefounding operations to Walter Fruttiger AG.