What is the name of the German equivalent for billboard?

Question

I am trying to find the correct spelling of the round advertising boards found on the sidewalks in German towns. The board is a place where local news, events, shows, bands, etc are posted. The round pole varies in size and can be a foot to several feet in diameter and I would guess 8 to 10 feet tall. It was named after the inventer who was a printer I believe. Phonetically I believe it is Lit-fa-zoil. Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

It's a "Litfaßsäule" (or Litfasssäule, Litfass column), named after its inventor, the printer Ernst Litfaß.

The English term is the "Morris column", taken from the French "Colonne Morris" for some reason.

Answer 2

They are Litfaßsäule.  They were invented by the chief of the Berlin police Karl Ludwig Friedrich Von Hinkeldy to stop fly-posting.  He awarded a contract to Litfass who patented the idea in1857 after Hinkeldy was killed in 1856.

Answer 3

www.bablefish.altavista.com translates anything free...you can find it on there.

Answer 4

Die Litfaßsäule would translate as advertising column.

A billboard for advertising is called "die Plakatwerbung". The article "die" is important to remember too.