Brother Logo PNG
The Brother logo is characterized by its smooth and streamlined design. It echoes the key elements of the manufactured equipment, repeating its smooth contours and rounded corners. The emblem reflects the desire to please customers and make working with the company’s products as easy as possible.
Brother began in April 1908 in Nagoya, when Kanekichi Yasui opened a small sewing machine repair shop. Most machines used in Japan were imported from brands such as Singer and Gritzner, and spare parts were difficult to obtain. His son Masayoshi learned the trade as a teenager. He took over in 1923 and later worked with his younger brother Jitsuichi to move from repair to domestic production.
In 1928, the brothers opened Yasui Brothers and released their first product, a chain-stitch sewing machine for straw-hat production. They then worked on a household lockstitch machine, a harder technical task because Japan lacked industrial production of bobbin hooks. In 1932, Jitsuichi developed equipment for casting the hooks, and the Type 50 Model 70 became Japan’s first household lockstitch sewing machine.
In 1934, the company became Nippon Sewing Machine Manufacturing Co. In 1936, it began producing industrial sewing machines. In 1947, after World War II, the company exported 200 HA-1 household machines to Shanghai. Brother International Corporation was founded in the United States in 1954, and it opened a European sales base in Dublin in 1957. In 1961, Brother released its first portable typewriter, and in 1962, it became Brother Industries, Ltd.
In 1968, Brother bought Britain’s Jones Sewing Machine Co. In 1971, working with Centronics Data Computer Corporation, it created a high-speed dot-matrix printer. The K-2000 Japanese-character printer followed in 1974. After the US imposed anti-dumping duties on typewriters in 1979, Brother diversified into office equipment and launched a division in 1981. In 1988, it introduced the P-touch label printer, and in 2015, it acquired Domino Printing Sciences.
Meaning and History
The company has come a long way in finding a logo that best reflects its essence. As the corporation expanded and added new areas of work and countries, its emblems varied. The only constant is the wordmark, without drawings or graphic elements. Each emblem looked more modern and stylish. The lack of radical changes in identity in the last 30 years suggests that the perfect match has been found.
What is Brother?
A Japanese company specializing in office and industrial electronics. Brother operates 40 branches worldwide and seven factories, and employs over 41,000 people. Particularly known for its laser printers.
1926 – 1962
The first logo appeared on a sewing machine in 1926, when the founder’s sons inherited the business. They gave the company the long name Yasui Brothers’ Sewing Machine Company, which was abbreviated in the trademark.
The emblem consisted of the inscription “Brother-Machine”. This name was chosen because two brothers ran the business. Since the workshop’s establishment in 1908, it has focused on repairing sewing machines. Yasui produced his first machine in the early 1930s. However, as if anticipating the future, the logo omitted the words “repair” or “service.” Therefore, the mark was ideal for the first devices.
The logo’s letters are gold and capitalized. This technique emphasizes the quality of the craftsmen’s work, the warranty, and reliability. It indicates the owners’ high ambitions. For the Japanese, the color gold symbolizes the Sun and divine power. By using it, the brothers sought to attract heaven’s favor and prosperity.
1962 – 1982
1982 – today
The new emblem came about after Brother introduced the first battery-powered thermal electronic printers. The updated logo was meant to reflect innovation and development.
The logo uses light blue letters in a smooth, rounded font. The writing style indicates the convenience and comfort of using the corporation’s equipment.
The logo’s lack of lowercase letters aligns with the company’s slogan, which promises to be on the customer’s side. The slogan emphasizes Brother’s desire to be useful and to serve customers’ interests. Such goals require shifting the focus from self-interest to users’ needs. Hence, the capital letters in the logo.
Another reason is that Brother often works under OEM contracts and sells products to other companies to be sold under their brands.
Font and Colors
The emblem is monochromatic. In Japanese culture, its sky-blue color symbolizes protection from all evil and promises prosperity, longevity, and harmony.
The hue emphasizes the corporation’s historical roots. In ancient times, blue was the color of commoners, the same group the company’s founders belonged to.
Blue represents the sky, dreams, and hope. The corporation has reached incredible heights, and its owners keep dreaming, anticipating future achievements.
The font used in And Then It Ends. All letters lack sharp corners. The rounded lettering recalls the rolls that drive printers and scanners. They also resemble fax paper rolls, sewing machine wheels, and bobbins.