Just Say No

Lots of choice when it comes to 'No Parking' signs, it almost seems that phrase is written into our DNA. In fact there are so many varieties I am going to have to break them down into types over several postings. These ones are domestic scale and what they have in common is a homemade vibe. The little blue one adopts a familiar colour scheme and official format, but attached to the wall of a private residence it's authority seems more advisory than enforceable. Even so I think this little number must be effective and recommend a neat 'blue and white' plaque as a discrete device.

The peeling red one above it was spotted in strong sunlight, adding to the feeling of faded glory. The well preserved lettering is made up of white tape, the distinctive angular typeface formed by fashioning letters from straight lines looks like it was spawned from the 70's or early 80's when electronic type was in its early days and awkward calculator writing impressed us!

While we are talking about typefaces I've got to say this black and white sign, painted directly onto a plank of wood and screwed straight into the wall is a corker. Modest and workaday (argh, americanism horrible word, how did that creep in?) it must have survived a good many years. Very stylishly executed with closely packed, elongated letters that are not wasting an inch of their baseboard. Lets hope it lasts many more years for its good looks alone and remember, if you want to make your own No Parking sign, whether slick, stoic or stylish, make it a good looking one.