I always thought a snapper was the sort of turtle like the ones we have in the ponds here.
Posted by david drane (Member # 507) on :
See page 52 Signcraft Jan./Feb '04 to see what a real SNAPPER is. Possibly a dinosaur by now. Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
In the early days of the last century (20' and 30's)mostly due to the depression when work was hard to come by there was a horde of itinerate sign painters
Snappers got their name from the fact that they had no shop to work in and it made pattern making difficult at best and a waste of time...
Even on the smallest jobs they held a string ("snap line") wrapped around their pinkie fingers of each hand and while it was stretched tight they would snap the line with the index finger and thumb of one hand...(try it sometime ...it takes a lot of practice).
They could come in fast snap their layout lines on the sign... lay it out by hand ...letter it and be gone before any of the locals were aware they had even been there and "stole" a job from them.
In those days...they had to be tougher than most because if they got caught there was sure to be a fist fight with one or more of the locals.
Most especially if they bucked a union shop.
Our old union hall used to have pictures of these guys as the traveled from town to town on bicycles, often with everything they owned tied to it along with their kit and paint (any paint was acceptable)after all they weren't going to be there tomorrow.
Most got the reputation of poor workmanship (a lot of them deserved it)They worked often for food...lodging...and booze (I believe thats where we got our reputation for being undependable drunks).
I asked the same question 40 years ago of an 80 year old sign painter mentor I once had named Earl Newby (Kansas City Mo.)...what you just read was his explanation and he should know he was there.
Oh one more thing ...did you know Woodie Guthrey of "This land is your my land" fame was a "snapper"...and thats how he made money to travel around the U.S.A.
If nothing else it's a good story ...and I believe it!
[ April 19, 2004, 12:38 AM: Message edited by: Monte Jumper ]
Posted by John Lennig (Member # 2455) on :
and in whatever fashion it evolves into, may it never end... "I travel, therefore, I snap"
John Lennig / Signrider
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
Catch me at a meet sometime and I'll show you how to make a "paint container" out of a buisness card sized piece of paper or light cardboard..
Thats what the snappers used instead of cans...imagine how many cans you use a week and picture yourself on a bicyle carrying a bag of cans you kit your clothes...even a small ladder.
Over the years "snappers" have been romanticized but truthfully a early day "true snapper" was usually a guy that couldn't hold a job...wasn't as good as most signpainters...suffered from wanderlust... but knew how to survive better than most.
If anyone is insulted by my comments keep in mind I'm not talking about "you". Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
ive seen ARLO GUTHERIE in concert 3-4 times. seems he liked sarasota in the winter time...hehehehehe. and all his shows where done in small theaters where you almost are on stage. he also says this about his father.....so comin from the son it must be true. i sorta consider myself a modern day "snapper". with the mobile sign shop, i can do either paint or vinyl..ON THE SPOT!!! so iam sorta carrin on the business....ive been asked how many 6 packs it will take to do the job.....to which i reply, i dont drink beer, ill take the money and on the way home ill buy some (dollar value of the job)CHAMPAGNE!!!!!!!!!!!!hahahahahahahahahaha
Posted by Jon Butterworth (Member # 227) on :
An old English Dude showed me that snap the chalk line trick Monte. Damned if I can do it
This guy was from year dot! Could snap lines on a tuck door without a rule or any marking out and letter/shadow it perfect.
OP ... yer should bring your truck out west in Queensland! You would make a fortune! Seems signwriters are thin on the ground out there. Made the mistake of taking my brush kit with me when we went to visit some friends about 8 hours out. Ended up updating the Honour Boards on the Golf Club, Bowls Club, the School and RSL Club. Took all weekend! Damn it was 7 years since they had seen a signwriter!
Posted by Rovelle W. Gratz (Member # 4404) on :
There was a man & wife who used to come through here every couble years in the '60s. Everything they did was done with a fast swash script using varnish and bronzing powder. They only did windows, but they did a lot of them in a day. Even the phone numbers were done with the same script if you can picture it. I've used the Thread snapping trick since the '60s. You can make a finer line than with string. I also use the card trick for paint cups. Nice to use with a mahl stick.
Posted by Rovelle W. Gratz (Member # 4404) on :
There was a man & wife who used to come through here every couble years in the '60s. Everything they did was done with a fast swash script using varnish and bronzing powder. They only did windows, but they did a lot of them in a day. Even the phone numbers were done with the same script if you can picture it. I've used the Thread snapping trick since the '60s. You can make a finer line than with string. I also use the card trick for paint cups. Nice to use with a mahl stick.
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
it is a lawn mower
Posted by jack wills (Member # 521) on :
Mr.Paar, Your becoming quite the joker. I demand you stop this falderal and get back to work....on the Zaaa!
Jack
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
I first learned to layout my signs with string and chalk. I learned it from the book that taught me to paint. Ralph Gregorys book of sign painting. Snapping two straight lines was easy. And I use to rembember how to make the paper cups from paper but forget now. Laying out ovals with string and push pins was another trick.
Snapper also comes in red down here in florida and is delicious blackened.
I've also heard the word used in reference to a womens genitals.
Posted by dave parr (Member # 3868) on :
ok Jack, it won't be long now!
Zaaba Daaba Dooo! Posted by Arthur Vanson (Member # 2855) on :
A superb signwriter I worked with for a time could never get the hang of snapping a line with his finger so, would tie an overhand loop about three feet in, and snap it with his lips! I've never known anyone else do it that way and wondered if was unique?
Posted by CJ Allan (Member # 52) on :
Don't know about Snappin...........
But..I spent the better part of 2 years in the late 50s.....runnin around the western part of the country on a 53 Triumph.............Cal to Kansas
All I had was a small brush box and would pull into the local Drive-In hangouts and pinstripe everthing in site......till the work ran out........then ride up the road and do it again...!!
Didn't carry any paint, etc (no room).......just picked up some small cans of paint at the local auto parts/paint store (black, white, red, and blue) and some kerosene........... Threw it all out when I left.........
Just Me, my bike, my bedroll, well oiled brushes, and pockets full of green..........
Managed to get drunk, get high, get laid, and get broke ............and Get on down the road....!
Tooo much FUN........!!
Wouldn't change a damn thing.....but wouldn't do it again..........toooooo many dip****s out on them roads anymore...and "everybody" is a painter/pinstriper........
Does that count.......??
......cj
PS........Jack......Stevens was a pretty interesting guy , huh........??
[ April 19, 2004, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: CJ Allan ]
Posted by Bruce Williams (Member # 691) on :
Monte said
"Oh one more thing ...did you know Woodie Guthrey of "This land is your my land" fame was a "snapper"...and thats how he made money to travel around the U.S.A.
If nothing else it's a good story ...and I believe it" ------------------------- Well, you can believe his good intentions. In _Bound for Glory_, Woodie says he had his brushes wrapped up when he left home to hitchhike, but one of his early rides left him with his brushes in the seat.
You wrote a good description of "snapper." So did several other people, and I have a lot of good reading ahead. Thank yall much.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
[ April 20, 2004, 12:39 AM: Message edited by: Sheila Ferrell ]
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
LOL .......speakin' of 60's music icons . . . . .
Arthur, I reckon if Hendrix can do it on an Stratocaster, anyone can do it on a chalk line Posted by Arthur Vanson (Member # 2855) on :
Good point Sheila – and snap a line.
(edit) Good-grief, you've morphed while I was typing! Is it still you?
[ April 20, 2004, 04:43 AM: Message edited by: Arthur Vanson ]
Posted by Murray MacDonald (Member # 3558) on :
BillRiedel still does that paper paint cup thing, mounts it on his thumb pallet AND holds the mahl stick! Saw him doing it in Unity last year while lettering backwards on a spiral scroll...blew me away, I tell ya'! MUR
Posted by dave parr (Member # 3868) on :
I guess that would be a "Lip Snapper," Arthur? I can't say I've ever seen it done that way. Sounds pretty unique to me. His name wasn't fish, was it?
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
"Lip Snapper"
I'd like to see that one in action...like at the bottom of a door panel on an El Camino.
Maybe he used that trick of laying under the vehicle like Dave Draper Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :
If anyone is interested, I'll show my technique sometime for laying out an elipse with a yard stick or other straight stick. No strings attached, so-to-speak.
Posted by Arthur Vanson (Member # 2855) on :
Dave, Of course not, you're just being silly now. As a matter of fact, it was ol' Chubby Grouper out of Lakeview, remember him?
Sorry ,I'm missing the significance of "Lip Snapper" must be a 'common language divided by a world of understanding' thing? Or just USA/UK ?
Posted by dave parr (Member # 3868) on :
Just as you pointed out Arthur, merely a little silliness. A weak attempt at trying to give the technique a descriptive name.
No disrespect intended to ol' Chubby Grouper; however, I do feel at a loss by your question of remembering "ol' Chubby Grouper," sorry.
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Cool post.
I never realised the term "snapper" came from the string trick. I guess the modern day version is what I do. A couple of pieces of tape, draw, paint. In all honesty, I love doing that more than measuring, weeding, masking, etc. It just feels more creative than technical and I learned to use brushes that way.
I've seen Bill Riedel making the index cards into paint cups. Neat! I cut the bottoms off of plastic soda bottles. Usually Mountain Dew...
Rapid
Posted by Wesley Lewis (Member # 4642) on :
I can remember years back when I would be asked what bottle of booze I would like before I ever got started on a truck. It was an excepted form of pay in someplaces still,........in 1982. I still load up the kit and cruise town foer extra $$$$ when I have more time than money. I just painted daughter's car from front to back with 1-shot, 1.5" flat, 2.5" cutter, and roller. It got a thumbs up from a autobody man,....LOL. Graphics go on tommorrow
Posted by dave parr (Member # 3868) on :
Wes,
While I was roofing my house one day back in the late seventies, I watched a fellow brush & roll an old black junk heap with bright red barn paint. The black came through in such an artistic manner, it was a “Beauty to Behold.” He stood back and looked at the car, turning his head from side to side, ...then just looked for the longest time. Then he stepped a few feet further back and continued to scrutinize the mastery of his work. I might have paid to be in on the thoughts that went through his head. He finally gathered the 4” mop & 7” roller from the gravel next the vehicle, touched up a few spots and disappeared. That “Thing O Beauty” sputtered around town for at least two years before they gave it a proper funeral.
Why do I chuckle about things like that?
Posted by Rovelle W. Gratz (Member # 4404) on :
I once gave an estimate of $600 for a wall job.
I saw the customer a few days later, asked if he was ready for the wall job...He said he got a guy that was passing through town to do it for $25 and a bottle of Jack Daniels.
I drove by the wall for a look...it looked like he gave the guy the bottle of JD in advance.
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