Apple1logo

This lettering is in the general form of Helvetica, with subtle differences from most variations of Helvetica that you see today. Through extensive searching I found a very close match with Neue Haas Grotest Std Text 65 Medium. This is a recreated version of the predecessor to Helvetica. Check out this page with more information about this font.

Here is a recreation of the Apple Computer 1 lettering using this font. I think it would be hard to beat this match.

Replicated Apple Computer 1 logo

replicated Apple 1 copyright notice

If someone has a Letraset catalog from the 70’s, it would be interesting to see if they can find a good match in one of those catalogs.

First thing to figure out is what is the Leroy lettering system? It is a system to mechanically create lettering that was intended to generate legible lettering on a drafting table. Engineering documents, maps, architectural drawings and the like were the primary applications.

Here is an image of a K&E Leroy lettering set.

K&E Leroy Lettering Set

It’s easier to show how it works, than describe it. Here is an image of one set up to make a capital M. The scribe follows the letting in the ruler like jig and ink in the “pen” writes a pretty exact copy of that letter. There are a series of jigs for different sized letters. The scribe tool can be adjust to make the letters slanted in an italic type fashion.

Leroy Letterng Sytems Set Up

So how do we determine whether this system was used to make the lettering for the Apple 1. The easiest way is to compare the lettering on an actual Apple 1 with an example we know was made with Leroy lettering System.

Apple1 Leroy Lettering compared to Apple 1

You can see that the newly created Leroy lettering (bottom) is nearly a perfect match to the Apple 1 (top), so I think that we can be pretty confident that the Apple 1 lettering was made with the Leroy or very similar lettering system.

My next question is whether the SCELBI front bezel was also lettered with the Leroy system.

Leroy and SCELBI Front Panel

Though the lettering is very close, there are some differences in the leg on the “R” and the “A” looks a little different. Also the ends of the strokes on the letters have nice square edges, which would not occur in a Leroy lettered system.

Finally, follow this link to see what Wonder Woman comic books have in common with the Apple 1.