First off I’m not a letterhead, but a watchmaker and modest sign collector. I’ve got several reverse painted signs that need work. I managed to get a hold of several older copies of the letterhead magazine. Unfortunately there don’t appear to be any restorers with ads.
It’s important to me to have a sympathetic restorer preferably in California. I’m most likely going to need to do it all through the mail so I won’t be able to check them out in person. Are there any organizations or key points the person should belong to or have? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Regards, Wynter
I hope this type of post is all right and that it makes sense, it’s been a very long day.
-------------------- Wynter Sturtevant California Posts: 3 | From: California | Registered: Apr 2003
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Hi Wynter, this is a great place to find a lot of very talented people. Another resource is the American Sign Museum, their website is www.signmuseum.org or Tod Swormstedt, American Sign Museum, 407 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45202, ph 800-925-1110, ext 336, fx 513-421-5144. Good luck.
-------------------- Dawn Ellis Signs by Dawn Long Beach, CA signsbydawn@aol.com
Trust yourself. Listen to the voice within. It is always right. Posts: 456 | From: Long Beach, California | Registered: Jan 2003
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Why not post a pic and let the painters on this board look at it. Then I'm sure you will get some recommendations on who they think would be good for that job. You might find several people who could do it.
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Here's a poor picture of it. The large lettering needs the coloring put back (red and blue). It needs a little back ground work around the edge. It may also need some silver leaf touch up. The painting in the middle is in very good shape.
-------------------- Wynter Sturtevant California Posts: 3 | From: California | Registered: Apr 2003
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What a cool sign. Is that reverse painted under glass? That's a candidate for some very judicious repairs that definitely fall under "restoration", not a repainting, but a matching of the original colors and patinas. Wish I was in CA, it looks like a challenge. Any meets coming up in his area?
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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That looks like a painted letter with a silver outline? The trick here would be to determine what leaf was used and how it was applied. The rest shouldn't be too hard. Anyone who could do something like that would want to see it first, so your probably right about the logistics of it.
If I had it here, I would try to reproduce a letter or two on another piece of glass to see how close a match it would be. Are you sure that "restoring" this piece won't lower it's antique value? How old is it?
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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It looks to me like convex glass, burnished silver outline on the main lettering, and I believe the can is metal, soldered shut all around on the back side. How to get it open without damaging the piece, and be able to put it back again, later? Would the silver have to be scraped away to "patch" where it has failed? I've tried to patch gold jobs and it doesn't work very well, at all, even if you have the right karat. Would the red & blue have to be scraped out from the centers and replaced? Easier to scrape it all down and redo it, saving only the center illustration? Or replace that, too? After all that it would no longer be an antique, but a new sign on an old piece of glass. Dished as it looks it has to all be hand done. I'd like to see it in person.
Posts: 1859 | From: / | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ya I can think of three or four of us that can handle that type of Restore. David who worked with Rick Glawson for a 18+ years. Probably give "Lola Grey" a Phone call she if she has David's phone number. there also an X Disney Artist in San Pedro, and John in Burbank. I will contact these people on monday to see if I can give out there Phone number? OK. Sit tight your in the right place.
-------------------- Danny Bussell Tujunga, California
Bootleg on Chat
"Keep The Rubber Side Down" Posts: 213 | From: Tujunga, California | Registered: Mar 2003
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