Last year a gentleman came into the studio and asked if we could do some hand lettering on a peddle car that he had received for Christmas as a child. It was in really bad shape but was to go to a body shop for restoration, but he needed someone to replace the hand lettering. I took patterns off the little car and he left for the body shop.
It was six months before he brought it back. It was in perfect condition.
I found out that he had received the little car as a Christmas gift in the 40's - almost the same year I was born. He had kept it all these years and wanted a memento to pass on to his grandchildren.
As I did the lettering I couldn't help but imagine an old sign painter back over sixty years ago sitting and doing the same thing I was doing. My shop was well lighted and heated - comfortable, with music playing in the background. He probably was working in a dingy garage with a dirt floor and a light bulb hanging from a cord, heated by a wood or kerosene stove.
His paint may have mixed from pigment and lead while mine was out of a can all ready to use. Thinner was turpentine or maybe even gasoline while mine was a special mixture that matched the temperature.
There was probably not a lot of difference in the brushes we used.
It was a nice time of trying to visualize what he looked like and how he felt while lettering this little car for a man that was about to give it to his son for Christmas. He was a taxi driver here in Temple and may have used a sign painter by the name of Lee (Raymond Lee)who was still painting signs when I was in high school, although an old man by that time.
I'm not sure who lettered the little peddle car, but I would like to think that it was Raymond Lee because I have some of his gold leaf and other articles that were purchased from his widow back in the 60's. It was nice to think that while I admired his work way back there (and he had no idea who I was) that I was getting to reproduce his design over 65 years later.
Lawyers and plumbers don't get those experiences, I don't think.
Posted by Pat Welter (Member # 785) on :
Great story, cool car...Thanks, Raymond
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Cool stuff Raymond. And while this job most likely didn't fill the bank account in a big way I'll bet it was more worthwhile than many that did.
-grampa dan
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
You've got that right, Mr. Dan.
It felt good to have a brush in my hand. And while my 66 year old hands didn't shake, there must have been something wrong with the lighting because the little details were hard to see.
Posted by Robert Carney (Member # 2016) on :
nicely done Raymond ... ditto on the great story!
Posted by Michael Clark (Member # 2268) on :
Great job, Raymond!! Looks real sweet.
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Great Story and Great Work!
Posted by Pierre Tardif (Member # 3229) on :
Nice work monsieur Chapman!! It put a smile in my face everytime I see you still get to do hand lettering work! And always rewarding to bring back memeories for people.
Life is so good!!
Posted by Rene Giroux (Member # 4980) on :
Posted by Mike Faig (Member # 6104) on :
Very nice Mr Chapman.
Posted by Brian Diver (Member # 1552) on :
Raymond,
I had the same thing happen to me a number of years ago except it was a grandmother who purchased one for her son. I think that model was about 1967 or so and in about the same shape. I totally redid it and it was a success. I wish I could see the smile on the kids face when he gets that as a present!
Awesome job!
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
It's not a gift for a child. The man received it as a Christmas gift in the 40's when he was a child and had it restored to keep for himself.
Thanks for the nice words, though.
Posted by Dirk Rampling (Member # 9233) on :
It's quirky jobs like this that make the sign industry so enjoyable. Nice work.
Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
that is cool
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Cool Ray! I did one for a friend a few years back... I'll try and post it in the next day or so...
Posted by Rusty Bradley (Member # 6938) on :
Really a neat job...and what a great before and after pic
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
It's hard to believe that those pics are of the same car!!!!!
Wonderful story and an even better paint job.
Congrats Ray.
Joe,
Makin Chip$ and Havin Fun!
Posted by John Deaton (Member # 925) on :
That looks great Raymond! I miss the days of brush lettering. So much, that I am resupplying my brushes and paint and going to do more hand lettering on my signs. ONe of the people whos work I love, Todd Hanson, still does everything by hand and turns out some awesome work, not to mention Pierre also.
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
Wow, that's really nice. I hoped you signed and dated it somewhere.
Posted by Erik Winkler (Member # 9040) on :
Wowww that looks allmost impossible. Beautifull!
Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
Wow, Raymond! That is beautiful! What fun that must have been!
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