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Gaspipe Lettering

This style of lettering was most common in the 1930s–50s, but regularly used up to the 1980s. It’s typified by a simple, almost modular construction of even strokes and rounded corners on a rectangular grid (think pipes!). American signpainters called the standby style “gas-pipe”, and it was a speedy way to get clean, simple letters up on a board or wall. The shapes are easy to learn and quick to produce and space. Flat- or round-topped ‘A’, ‘M’, and ‘N’s are common. Sometimes strokes end at a jaunty angle, but usually these alphabets are fairly straightforward throughout.

Fonts

Instructional Models

“Speedball Pen Manual” by Ross F. George
“Schrift” by Ernst Bentele, p52 “Schrift” by Ernst Bentele, p53

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