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I have just finished lettering another cola fridge ,this was a traier for a rod each one i try a different approach some seem to have a clear raised embossing to paint others not Ive tried dabbing with paint on the end of a foam roller,that helps sometimes to get the definition then tidying with the brush Some seem to be easier and quicker than others
We all must have been called upon to do these fifties icons how have you done yours?
Also how were they done new ,was it a stencil that fitted over the embossed logo..who knows?
Terry
-------------------- Terry Bull Sign & Custom Grays Essex England
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Terry, when I read this, I was flooded with memories of cola cases I have done over the years. All of them ,I used a long haired quill and very careflly drew my outline on the apex of the embossed or raised letter. Then filled it in, the hardest part was to get one-shot white to cover in one application. The other requirement for doing those, is to eliminate ALL distractions, it's tight, concentrating work, so run all your friends off and turn on some good tunes and paint away. Good luck....magoo
-------------------- Frank Magoo, Magoo's-Las Vegas; fmagoo@netzero.com "the only easy day was yesterday" Posts: 2365 | From: Las Vegas, Nv. | Registered: Jun 2003
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Alfred nailed it. The panels were screen printed before they were embossed. It is like the same method used on embossed plastic faces that are mass produced these days.
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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I've done a few, with a quill. It helps to have real good light, and even an extra light from the side...it helps you see the embossing better.
I believe Shep has done a few of these, with a rubber brayer. I'll defer to him to tell you how he went about it, 'cause it's his story.
Street rodders are snapping them up like crazy to put on a trailer, all customized. They all want that Coca-Cola painted back just like it used to be. I tried to talk a guy into doing one with gold leaf...but no way, he wanted white, 'cause that's the Coke way to do it. Oh well........
-------------------- 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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I have done several coke pieces over the years for a couple of guys here who restore and collect antiques. I have always hand lettered them and usually double coat the white for coverage. You can add a drop of silver to your white to make it cover better on the red. A light coming from the side, like Jeff said, helps to see the embossing.
I have lettered some unusual items for them, such as old gas pumps, gum machines, wagons and even some Julep Jars. Find someone in your area that restores nostalgic items and start a working relationship. This stuff breaks up the monotony some times and they are good conversation pieces while in the shop.
-------------------- Jeff Vrstal Main Street Signs 157 E. Main Street Evansville, WI 53536 1-608-882-0322 Posts: 670 | From: Evansville, Wisconsin | Registered: Sep 2001
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This one I did in white vinyl because the guy needed it "yesterday" and wouldn't wait for paint to dry. (I know that it is heresy to use vinyl on something like this but the customer is always right...Right?)
If I had had the time, I would have cut a paint mask and sprayed the lettering.
These things are similar to a lot of Antique Ford tractors I do. Seems that each model has a slightly different script. Not just bigger or smaller, but different slant and different loops etc.
Anyway...To get the actual script to be able to scan and vectorize, I taped paper over the raised lettering and then used some carbon paper and a squeegie to get a "rubbing". I then outlined the rubbing with a sharpie and scanned and vectorized.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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I always thought they were done with a brayer when they were first built. Anyway a brayer is the easiest way to do it. A block of wood with some felt stapled to it will also work. Both of these methods only work when the lettering is pristine. If it's dented or the panel is bowed or tweaked, forget it. Hand lettering one, like the others have pointed out is a real bitch.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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Well ime glad that ive not missed out on a trade secret to lettering these and we all have to wing' it the best we can This was done in oneshot ,tinted with cream to match the wheels
Never thought about them being printed BEFORE they were embossed
Here it is if it comes out Just had to try it behind my delivery
-------------------- Terry Bull Sign & Custom Grays Essex England
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Interesting story of a memorabilia collector in Lima Ohio, who started collecting in 1997 and one of the fellows who helped restore his collection was a sign painter by the name of Fred Bigler. Anyone know him?
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Apologies for the double post i coked up er cocked up This fridge ,originated from south africa,its the real thing bottom third is all motor etc
A mate of mine bought a repo glass shell at the south east nats one year,brought it home here and stuck it on a trailer towed it behind his rod and even got a pic of it in one of our street rod mags ,BAD NEWS... He got a letter from a legal firm representing coca cola who see it and threatened to sue the pants off him
The copies you mention CJ must be really hot
Terry
-------------------- Terry Bull Sign & Custom Grays Essex England
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We do all of the coke machines for an antique dealer here who specializes in old coke machines. We've done a lot of the very old ones that take a block of ice, no motor. I do it like Si. Paint and a 28 year old Grumbacher brush. Lat has done a number of them with film, but I can tell you that even though they all LOOK the same, they aren't. Minor differences require a new transfer, scanning and correcting for film work. If you're not that good with a brush, make a transfer, scan it in and make a template that strips just at the roll edge of the embossing, then airbrush it or paint it. Don't forget the Scotchbrite.
k31
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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we have a sat nite rod gathering at a burger king in pensacola. this past sat was the 1st sat with no RAIN!!!!! The place was packed ....more cars then ever. and this nice 32 ford sedan had a coke cooler on a trailer....only problem...the car was jet black.....and he painted the cooler to match!!!!! it had a great paint job...but it sure lost something being black with silver gray lettering. yuk!
-------------------- 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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