Originally released by Berthold in 1913 in a single light weight as part of the Block series. Magere Block by Louis Oppenheim [Seemann] is essentially a wide version of Berliner Grotesk, and Halbfette Block a bold cut. Some sources credit Oppenheim with the design of Berliner Grotesk, too. [Reichardt] Seemann lists it 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.