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Hi gang, I have been to look at 5 signboards that hang in the belfry of a local parish church. They are all over 150 years old and my customer wants the boards repainting to their original condition. Here's the problem...... one of the signs ( situated above the entrance door ) has a black background, which is sound, but for some reason the signwriting seem to have almost faded away in places ? could this be due to lead paint? I have done a rough test and wiped the sign surface to see if it was dirt, but the sign face was clean.If it is the signwriters paint that was made from lead and has discoloured can I clean off the surface to reveal the original paint underneath ? I need to see the original lettering in order to match it when I come to re-letter the sign. Any input would be greatly appreciated, many thanx, Brian.
-------------------- Brian the Brush brian the brush uk Yorkshire, UK www.brianthebrushuk.com Posts: 123 | From: United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2001
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My guess is that 150 years weathering and numerous cleanings are the reason for the fading away of the letters.
A possibility is that a "Black Light" (ultra violet) might bring them out enough to be able to distinguish what is missing....otherwise, sounds like a lot of research into the parish records will be required.
-------------------- Si Allen #562 La Mirada, CA. USA
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Brushasaurus on Chat Posts: 8831 | From: La Mirada, CA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Good Lord Joey, You've about killed me! And folks don't think you don't have a sense of humor .
Brian, isn't Bolling Hall (sp?) in Bradford? I would bet that if you got in touch with the curators (or whomever takes care of the place)and explained your situation they could put you in contact with whomever does the restoration and upkeep there, who in turn could probably offer a wealth of information on restoration techniques.
Those restorationist sort of people have allways been helpful to me when dealing with historic type projects.
'Course, here in the states we generally don't have anything over 226 years old to worry about .
[ July 23, 2002, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: Jonathan Androsky ]
-------------------- Jon Androsky Posts: 438 | From: Williamsport, PA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Brian, those sound like pretty rare pieces that would be very valuable in their un-restored condition as antiques or even museum pieces. Repainting them sounds like destroying them to me. Maybe I'm too used to American standards that dictate anything over 100 years old is holy.
Any chance of talking them into a complete replacement while preserving the originals? You could even offer to dispose of the, ahem, 'old ones'. Some antiquities dealer at Sothebys might be very interested in taking them off your hands.
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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Anything that old I would assume was done in Oils with Linseed and Turps.
Dana Paints in California would be the place I ask question to.
Now for the image. As stated if it is a Black background then a Black light system may show you image outline. Clear accetate overlay to track artwork.
All pigment can't be gone.
Can you chip a very small area to see the colour layer that have been redone over time without distruction of the sign
Good Luck and let us know the outcome.
-------------------- Stephen Deveau RavenGraphics Insinx Digital Displays
Letting Your Imagination Run Wild! Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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Hi, thanx for the input, the sign has a black background with what looks like white lettering.My thoughts at the moment are that the signwriter has used a paint made with a lead base, which has oxidised. I am going to try and wipe a sample area with meths, which I hope will take off a small amount of lettering paint and reveal the text below. The signs are in very good condition considering their age, the signwriter who first did the work was a man of great skills, each signboad also contains a pictorial of bells being rang.I will post you a photo of the finished work when the job is completed.
-------------------- Brian the Brush brian the brush uk Yorkshire, UK www.brianthebrushuk.com Posts: 123 | From: United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2001
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