BRASS SIGNS

Brass signs may be used for sill signs, corner signs, drum signs, etc., in fact, for most any high-class business firm that can afford to ha\e them pol- ished often enough to keep in good sha])e, as they are far from being a lazy man’s sign, and are being re])laced by the chipped and etched glass sign, and wn”ndow lettering. They are used with any sized bevel, or, without bevel, and make a beautiful sign if kept clean, h’tch and Fnamel, either letters or background. h”"or particu- lars see hatching Brass Signs.

SPACING LETTERS

There being no set rule for .’pacing letters, the space be- tween them should be meas- ured by the eye entirel}’. All : ‘aces ]:)^’een letters must a])- rear the same. Letters are never the ^ame size, but they appear to be.

Some letters occupy more space than others and when this happens in a line of letter- ing, you must make the space between the others in that line, to look as near the same as pos- sible.

The most essential part is a pleasing effect.

CUTTING IN COLOR

Cutting in color should always be made up with plenty of oil, and just enough japan to dry over nieht. .”Cutting in black”

CLEANING GLASS

To clean old signs off of win- dow’s, use a “Gem” safety razor blade, using a jeweler’s hand \ice for a handle. This you will find one of the most useful articles for this purpose, and is also used for trimming edges of letters, such as round letter, etc. Wash glass with whiting and water, sponge off, and dry with a chamois skin. Then pol- ish with common newspaper, and you are ready for gilding.

CHALK LINE

The chalk line is another al- most indispensal)le tool, in the sign shop. A thin fish line mak- ing the best and strongest line for almost all purposes. Make marks at one end of sign for space and letters, and duplicate these marks on the other end, by marking on yard stick and measuring them ofif where wanted. By means of a small fish hook with (barb filed ofY) tied to one end of line, and hooked into cloth, or board, von are ready to

ALUMINUM (Leaf and Bronze)

Aluminum Leaf and Alum- inum Bronze must 1)e applied to “quick size” only. Do not attem])t glass-gihling with Aluminum Leaf. It will not work. A hi milium Leaf is used principally for raised and sur- face letters on inside work only. Aluminum Bronze for outside window lettering and edges of board signs in the shop. For –irii)inu- and outlining, use “lin- ing aluminum bronze” mixed thick in rnbl)iiig varnish and ihiniu-d with turi)entine. ‘I’o do a while job of lettering on dark surface, add a little “lin- ing aluminum bronze” to the wliite.

BARBER POLES

To repaint Barber Poles, trace all stripes, scrolls, etc.. with indelible lead pencil, ana paint the entire barber pole with a thin coat of flat white, and continue to coat until per- fectly white. Size and gild the ball and other places to be gild- ed with “slow” size, but do not varnish over the gold. Then stri])e with red and blue, and when dry, finish by varnishing with Deniar \irnish.

TRACING PATTERNS

Tracing patterns are done after letters are placed in posi- tion and carefully marked around with a lead pencil.

For tracing, use dressmaker’s tracing wheel, place pattern on a soft pine board, and carefully trace each letter. When fin- ished, turn over and sand paper the marks caused by tracing wheel, then pattern is ready for use.

See the letter “I^” attached to pattern sent you.

QUICK SIZE

“Quick size” is used for sur- face lettering on board signs, wagon lettering, and for gold and aluminum bronze, on win- dow work. In using “quick size.” you must be very care- ful to lay on even, avoiding runs.

When dried to the desired “tack” for gilding (as explained in window si<^ms), lay gold leaf on out of book, this is called “gilding from the book.” A drop or two of boiled oil will be of great helj:) in sizing in a large job, where there is lots of readirg matter. The oil will slow it down, and give vou a chance to “size in” several let- ters before starting to gild.

RAISED LETTERS ON BOARDS

A cheap and quick way to fasten raised letters on board signs, is to smalt and black the edges of boards first, when thoroughly dry, place a heavy clean fish line on board, where letters are to be ^laced. by aid of bradawl, at one end. make fast, and draw line tight and in place. Lay letters in place and i^roperly snaced. put one brad in each letter to hold them tem- iM^rarily. This will keep them from iarring out of place until nailed on securelv putting’ in ribont four brads to each six- inch hotter, more or Ic^s, as ‘”e- quircd according to size. Re- move fish line and sign is completed.

WINDOW SIGNS

Make “Pounce Pattern” of lettering desired and place on outside of window as previous- ly explained, g:o over pattern v.M>h “Pounce Bag.”

Size in the letters with our “celebrated quick size” allow- ing same to dry about f^ of an hour, or until ])roper “Tack” is felt.

Place back of finger to size and if it appears dry and hard, it will be ready for gilding. If gilded when too wet, you will drown the gold ; hence, a poor gild, and gold cannot be prop- erly burnished unless size is the proper “tack.”

After becoming accustomed to gilding and feeling the size, vou will encounter no difficulty. (See quick and slow size.)

Use the same “Size” for Gold and Aluminum Bronze.

GILDERS’ TIP

The gilders’ tip is made of camel’s hair, in different lengths, from 1 inch to 3 inches, and must be thoroughly wiped through the hair (or side of face) before lifting the gold leaf from the book to surface to be gilded.

WIRE SIGNS

Scmietimes called “Sky Signs,” are made of No. 9 gal- \ anized wire, woxen in dia- mond shape (or “Mesh”), any size “mesh” up to 3 inches, and is either set in channel, or round iron frame. “Channel iron frame” being more expen- si\e, round iron frame Is cheaper and must be set in an extra gas i)ii)e frame, in order to hold sign securely, and is u: ed on roofs of buildings only, and is called “Sky Sign.”

Flat galvanized iron letters is the f)nly style recommended for “Sky Signs. The letters may be cut out of 28-gauge gal- \ anized iron, painted black and fastened to *’\\’ire Mesh” with ct)i)per wire or copper rixets. wire being most ]iractical, black letters being the only co’or that will contrast with a li’^-ht blue sky. m’d<es a \e-y (lur;il)]>- aii’! lecfible siuii.