The Significance of "5"

[jonathan]

This may be a silly question, but I have wondered for a while:

What is the significance of "5" on so many of Bachmann's logos?
Does it refer to the 5 scales offered by Bachmann? (N, HO, On30, O, Large)

Hopefully, curiosity won't kill this cat...

Regards,

Jonathan

[Jim Banner]

Is that a 5 or a stylized B ?

Jim

[Loco Bill]

It is one of those logos that can be read two ways. If you look at the red center it does look like a five, but if you look at the gold border around the five it is a B.

[jonathan]

I see it now, sort of.  That is one super-stylized "B".   Thanks for setting me straight, Jim.

Jonathan

[Woody Elmore]

Bachmann has been around a long time and the "B" is probably derived from the old German gothic script which is very fancy stuff.

When I studied German in college I had trouble doing some of the reading selections because of the alphabet which had an extra letter or two. For example there is a letter that resembles a "B" but is actually a double s sound.

The Gothic alphabet is still used today - the title of the New York Times is in Gothic script.

[Kevin Strong]

Actually, it was originally going to be used for the ill-fated Bachman-Turner Overdrive/Jackson 5 reunion tour.

Seriously, you're not the only person to wonder that... It took me quite a few years in my youth to realize it was actually a "B." (I will not comment as to whether it was before or after I graduated from high school. )

Later,

K

[Jhanecker2]

Woody the old form of German scrip is called fraktur and that  "B" shaped letter is called ess-zett  and is used as a double  S .  John II  auf Wiedersehen.

[scottychaos]

I never saw the "5" before! it has always looked like a "B" to me..
I actually to look at it for a second before I could see this mysterious 5!



I suppose that could be a 5 on the inside..
but the main part of the logo is quite obviously a B IMO..

jonathan,
you are probably the only person who ever thought it was a 5!

Scot

[jonathan]

Scot,

Actually, the logo you posted?  THAT is the very first Bachmann logo, I've seen, that really looks likes a "B".  Nice Graphics.  Every other logo I've seen is so cartoon-like, they were obvious "5s" to me.

Sorry to cause such a fuss.  Perhaps that fact that I'm mostly colorblind, has kept me from seeing the logo like everybody else does.  I can't see the numbers in the colored dots, either.  Thank God, Steam engines are mostly black (sans weathering).

I was happy to let this thread die, as soon as Jim pointed out the "B" I couldn't see.

Regards,

Jonathan