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I've recently moved my shop to Gettysburg, PA after 27 years in Baltimore, and because of this new market, I'm starting to look for any Civil War period signage that would indicate the letter styles/ designs used. There are some fonts that LOOK period but I would really like to see some actual photos to judge for myself. Any suggestions?
-------------------- Gene Golden Gettysburg Signs Gettysburg PA 17325 717-334-0200 genegolden@gettysburgsigns.com
"Art is knowing when to stop." Posts: 1578 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003
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Gene, There must be a gazillion museums in Gettysburg— not to metion an equal number of books on the subject. I'd start at those two sources. The Internet will have lots of sites with historical photos showing buildings and towns in that era. There are a few old lettering books from that time frame, but they are hard to find and usually expensive. You also have to consider there was a large population base that didn't know how to read during that period, so a lot of the signs had symbols like a tooth, anvil, spectacles, and boot.
Mike Jackson
-------------------- Mike Jackson Golden Era Studios Jackson Hole, Wy www.goldenstudios.com/ Posts: 390 | From: PO Box 7850 | Registered: Nov 1998
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Gene, I have some old sign and lettering books that I could send some scans to you from. There are a few signs and lots of good lettering. The Standard Sign Writer from 1867, Copley's Plain and Ornamental Standard Alphabets from 1870 and American Textbook for Letters from 1858 or so(the third letter is printed bad and can't read it clearly). Let me know and I'll send you some scans. I could probably get the scans to Steve and have them available for everyone if people would like that. Heck, I believe the copyrights are long expired!!
-------------------- Mike Duncan(from the left coast) Astoria, Oregon Posts: 367 | From: Astoria, Oregon 97103 | Registered: Nov 1998
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Scans available on Letterville would be great!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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Gene, I am soooo envious of you! You see, as an avid Civil War buff and a HUGE lover of Gettysburg, it was my desire to move there after my last kid is raised. (10 more years) Now you've gone and taken away my goal....sigh. I'll have to pop in your shop when I make my yearly trek there in September. You have some cool Letterheads out that way! As for 1860s style signs, if you read the Time-Life series of books about the Great Conflict, they are rife with pictures of old buildings with wall signs, and political flyers, sheet music art, and other cool inspirational things to get you started. Any local library would have them. Man I wish I was you! Did you buy a building or are you in a house? I wanted to buy a storefront, hopefully with a few bullet holes in the bricks and a ghost in the attic, and live in an apartment on top. Love...Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Loving that era, my friends in Ohio used to take me to the civil war reenactments where they participated in full garb. There were fairs and villages set up with wares to sell, etc. It was huge, and my friend's hubby collects guns from that era, plus makes his own powderhorns, handcarved. We're big on that stuff, let me see if he has any info. I will email him but it will take a couple weeks, maybe. Then, I'll post, good luck, try posting on ebay or the newspaper for anyone who may have any connections. It's probably big in that area. all the best, Deb Fowler Ps. the Indians were kind of fun to watch when they just dress in warpaint and little wraps running!
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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Wow! Ask a simple question!!! Anyway, a little testimonial to Mike Jackson, I don't know how to say how much I love your Americana Collection. In just the short time I've had it, I've been using it a lot and there are quite a few designs in this resource that apply. I don't want to overdo it but it is a great resource. Mike Duncan, scans would be great and appreciated. Jill, I moved here on a whim. I believe I was drawn here. Possibly an old soul. I have never felt more comfortable in a place. My shop is in a hen laying house behind my home on 3 acres. It is 36' x 100' that I am slowly converting for my shop. I do believe I got the last real bargain in Gettysburg! You are welcome to visit, nothing fancy, but the rent is cheap. (the hens are gone)
In general, you would think there are a lot of books here in Gettysburg and even the Historical Society but... so far they mainly show some stupid battle pictures - go figure. Evidently there were no sign men on vacation in this town back then, otherwise we all know there would be LOADS of photos of signs!
-------------------- Gene Golden Gettysburg Signs Gettysburg PA 17325 717-334-0200 genegolden@gettysburgsigns.com
"Art is knowing when to stop." Posts: 1578 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003
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Gene........ I got this from one of my books, sorry if it is a sloppy scan. This sign was actually hanging in the town of Gettysburg and was pierced by bullets the first day of the battle July 1, 1863. (I'm still envious) Love...Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I would just do a search on Gettysburg battle photos on Google. Try Antietam too. One photo comes to mind of Confederate soldiers standing in front of a dry goods store in Frederick, MD (good example good signage). Good luck -Ron "Up men, up and to your posts. Do not forget today that you are from old Virginia!" -Gen. George Pickett
-------------------- Ron Wakefield Signs by Ron Southington, CT ron@signsbyron.com Posts: 71 | From: Southington, CT | Registered: Jul 2004
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Ron, What's a Connecticut boy doing quoting a Rebel? Jill, Thanks. Th'wern't pritty were they? I guess they had a bit of character. I guess one of my problems is that the local Boro seems to be restrictive. In that, they want to keep the historic "flavor" of the town. After seeing some of the period signs I have been able to locate, I'm not too impressed. I don't believe that the Historical Architectural Review Board would actually consider returning to black & white simple designs, but I would like to be able to incorporate the essence of the period. Pat, The printed posters of the day are probably a good source, but as you said, they too are simple. I'm wondering too if there is any foreign influence on this period even if it hadn't hit Gettysburg yet. Is there any crossover of European taste that can be incorporated? Paris, London to New York perhaps?
-------------------- Gene Golden Gettysburg Signs Gettysburg PA 17325 717-334-0200 genegolden@gettysburgsigns.com
"Art is knowing when to stop." Posts: 1578 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003
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"Why do we not attack and drive them into the river? I do not understand these things but yet I am only a boy." -Pvt. Elisha H. Rhodes, 2nd Rhode Island Infantry
How's that? A quote from up nawth. Although I'm technically a "bluebelly", I gotta love them rebs and their spirit. When my son is old enough I plan on taking him for his pilgrimage. Maybe we'll stop by your shop. -Ron P.S. He's going to Yankee Stadium first though..priorities you know!
-------------------- Ron Wakefield Signs by Ron Southington, CT ron@signsbyron.com Posts: 71 | From: Southington, CT | Registered: Jul 2004
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iam from little wahington pa and went to penn st in fayette county. fort nessecity, bradocks grave, and numorous other historical place along U.S. 40. frank lloyd wrights "falling waters" is there also. i helped build(planted trees when i was a kid)a place called MEADOWCROFT VILLAGE. might be of some help http://www.meadowcroftmuseum.org/ they have civil war battles there in the summer. also found this http://www.civilwarpa.com/ if you want more i think penn state history dept might be a lot of help.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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