J.W. Burleson photo / Boquillas del Carmen, Coah.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Boston Truck Language

Over the years I have noticed there is a particular and old-fashioned style of lettering and pin-striping used on many commercial trucks in eastern Massachusetts. This may be an exalted example of the genre. How to describe the style? I will be gathering more examples to make my point but you do see some of the elements here, notably the traditional font. with letters shadowed in a 3-D script and often in gilt. Pin-striping often frames the door, or whichever body panel is lettered--though you don't see that here. I've never read about Mass. truck lettering or seen it investigated. I'm not aware of another city or state with its own style of truck decoration, but the subject is of some fascination to Autoliterate, and we shall be investigating further. The Sullivan truck is a beauty. Pickup trucks just look better without an extended cab. What's interesting is that the lettering gives no clue as to what business, if any, M.A. Sullivan is engaged in. Perhaps he just wanted to have his name and the Suilleabhean coat of arms on his truck.

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