Originally released by Berthold in 1913 in a single light weight as part of the Block series. Magere Block is essentially a wide version, and Halbfette Block a bold cut. Some sources credit Louis Oppenheim with the design. [which?] Listed in Seemann as in-house design.

Revived by Erik Spiekermann in 1979 in 3 weights, incorporating Block Halbfett as Berliner Grotesk Medium [Spiekermann] and adding a Bold.