a few shorpy picture finds

[MILES M CULLINANE]

I shared some of these shots with another signwriter friend of mine and his reply really captured my own thoughts.
What a time to be signwriter!

Be sure to click on the full size view as the details of these pictures are incredible.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/7136

http://www.shorpy.com/node/7039

http://www.shorpy.com/node/6993

http://www.shorpy.com/node/6923

http://www.shorpy.com/node/6822

http://www.shorpy.com/node/5880

http://www.shorpy.com/node/6330



There'll be more shots in the future as I have bookmarked a good few of them but I got to go earn some bobs.

Enjoy

[BruceJackson]

thanks...I think.

This is such a great time waster...so many eye-popping signs...and other things to study.

Among my fav's - 7039 - the amazing shopfront "mode" building (http://www.shorpy.com/node/5190 - 6 years later)
6822 - the beautifully lettered posters for the theatre.
5880 -clean, elegant carved and gilded work. What is a "visible writer"?
and 6923 - not just for the signs, but also for having a huge illuminated sign reading "chop suey". hahaha

[Tony Segale]

my favorite is the 6822, also, because of the many examples of excellent hand lettering, including
the showcards for the theatre and the banner, even though there is at least one mispelling, the beauty of
each letter, not exactly or perfectly the same as the devil in the plotter would tempt you to produce.

Bruce, a visual writer was a term for a improved version of the typewriter, one that allowed you to see the letters
struck to the paper. Apparently the first typewriter struck from the backside of the paper.
Of course, sitting up in that showroom window in plain view must have created a busy sideshow
for those below....

All of those Shorpy old time photos are a great reference for selecting and developing your own lettering style for any project.
No need to search for those demonically rigid fonts floatin out here in the cyber universe.

Just my opinion.

"No brag, just fact" Walter Brennan / The Guns of Will Sonnet.

[Dan Seese]

Thank you, Miles. I love that web site.
Here is a good one I found through the links you sent.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/9413

Theatre Comique: It's a great example of theatrical opulence.

[Tony Segale]

Wow!

You win, Dan. you found the top photo.
Now, who's going to recreate that in glass?
Who?

[MILES M CULLINANE]

Dan, that is some find!

Looks like it might have been done off site as the top panels in the center aren't lining up.

That sign shop could have real proud of work like that!

[Leo Calleros]

I have wasted multiple nights looking through this website. I almost got caught up on it right now looking through those links.

Must fight off the urge to kill half a day looking through this site again.

[Dan Seese]

Tony - if I win, what's the prize?
Maybe you could recreate this in glass and give it to me!!!
Miles, if you look above the awning at the center (where the panels don't quite line up) you'll see the name of the sign shop. I think it says "Quail & Co." or something like that. Found this link which refers briefly to a Frank Quail who was, apparently, a renowned sign artist in Detroit around the time this photo was taken.

http://www.embreesign.com/history.html

In the Theatre Comique photo, it looks like the 2 windows that have the "TC" monogram & "Vaudeville" at the top & a pricing panel at the bottom are gilded in those areas. I love the elegant dimensional lettering used in the top central area. Then there are teasers for what we can't see. The bar to the left of the theater has some great leaded glass & a mosaic in the sign band at the top. And the Cigar store at the right gives us just enough to want more.
This one pic has enough to keep me distracted for a long time - "High Class Continuous Performance . . . Stay As Long As You Like".
Well, I can't stay any longer today. I'll pay my nickle another day.

[Kelly Thorson]

While looking for a boxcar image to clarify some detail on a mural I'm doing I ran across this gem.

[Patrick Mackle]

Ha Kelly,
I found that photo a few months ago and spent as much or more time looking at the suspension and drive train than I think I spent on the eye catching signs.
The "CANADA" sign on top appears to be back lit with colored glass rondels or lenses fixed in.
Pat