Ross Frederick George (11 March 1889 – 19 February 1959) was an American sign painter, inventor, and type designer who resided in Seattle, Washington.[1] He learned to letter from William Hugh Gordon.[2][3]
George was born in Parker, South Dakota,[4] to Francis Pierce George and Alice Carroll.[5]
George and Gordon were asked to design pens for Hunt Pen Company in 1913. By 1915 the pens were patented, and then put into production. The pens included A-style, B-style, C-style, D-style, and E-style nibs that reportedly cut the labor time of the lettering artist in half.[6] George then proceeded to produce a periodical Speedball Text Book which was a way for him to provide insight to those who wished to learn the art of lettering and sign painting. He created numerous editions until his death in 1959. His last was the 17th edition, although he had some involvement with the 18th edition.[citation needed]
In 1929, Ross F. George received a patent for a noiseless switch.[7]
He died in 1959 in Seattle.[8]
References
edit- ^ George, R. F. (1941). Calligraphy charts. Camden, N.J: Hunt Pen Co.
- ^ "William Hugh Gordon « MyFonts". www.myfonts.com. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
- ^ Gordon, William Hugh. Lettering for Commercial Purposes. Cincinnati: Signs of the Times Pub. Co, 1918.
- ^ U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
- ^ South Dakota, U.S., Birth Index, 1856–1918
- ^ "Speedball® Drawing & Lettering". Speedball Art. Retrieved 2019-06-05.
- ^ US 1720395, George, Ross F., "Noiseless switch", published 1929-07-09
- ^ Washington, U.S., Select Death Index, 1907–1960
- Art Chantry, "Ross F. George: typographic man of mystery", pp. 125–129 in Art Chantry Speaks: A Heretic's History of 20th Century Graphic Design, Feral House, 2015 ISBN 1627310134.
External links
edit- [1] Ross F. George mentioned in the Hunt Manufacturing Company history under the Speedball® Pen
- [2] Ross F. George mentioned in the second paragraph "In the Early twentieth century"
- [3] Ross F. George Story by Luc Devroye, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- [4] Scroll or Search for George, Ross F. mentioning a 1932(c) Speedball copy book