A couple of them look to be similar to the old Grumbacher round liners.I believe they came in lengths up to 2 1/2" long and were very difficult to use.I think I still have some around.Their biggest problem was if you got the correct paint consistency to pull a long line the brush would flop ove...

To all those who participated in the Detroit Autorama Charity Panel Jam,the members of the Motor City Auto Art Mavens and Leader Dogs for the blind offer a resounding THANK YOU!!!! Through your efforts we managed to raised a tad over $40,000 over the 3 day show;all of which went to the charity.Excep...

Just an update on the panel jam:the 125 slots are filled as of last week.To those of you who are registered;thank you and we are looking forward to having a great time and raising some serious money for a worthwhile cause. For informational purposes;the jam is being held on February 26th to 28th in ...

For those that may be interested in participating in a pinstriping panel jam at Cobo Hall in Detroit held in conjunction with the Detroit Autorama,you can register on-line for the event. This is being held from February 26-28 2010 and we are looking to get about 125 stripers,sign artists,and airbrus...

I don't normally like to use any metallic paint for striping but when I do the 1-Shot Metallic Brass seems to be the best of the lot.It seems to replicate actual gold the best in color anyway.The biggest problem I find is not being able to pull a very long line without reloading the brush.Usually tw...

I don't do a whole lot of gilding but when I do I use a commercial grade spar varnish.As Pierre noted,it does darken the gold a bit and I find that it takes several days to properly set up but once set is very durable. The 1-Shot UV clear as I understand it was not designed to use over paint but rat...

Picked this up at a yard sale today for $5.Not in the greatest of shape but it will be put to work.A 5 lb.coffee can with an oval cap.Looks like it might have been red originally;now a dark brown with what looks like gold leaf letters.

Where can I buy a mahl stick. I have never tried many of these things mentioned but they sound so much easier then the way I have been doing it. I made a great mahl stick out of a WWII era rifle cleaning kit that I found in as new condition at an antique store for $5.It is made of aluminum and alth...

Just a few things I've experienced while using 1-Shot on glass: I found a product called,"No Touch Glass Stripper"which is used primarily to remove silicone based products(Rain-X to be specific)from glass.The company(No Touch Products)has a website but it is pretty much available through m...

Will be attending the Autorama on Saturday to see Keith.I have spoken with him several times in the past few weeks.The good news is:He's finally quit smoking!Of course I'm going to have to see this to believe it.Always a good time when we get together;a great guy and fantastic artist.

Last two.

More pictures.

Thanks to all who commented.Here are some pictures of another old kit I acquired a couple years ago.This kit belonged to a man named Carl J.Stoiber who started his career as a striper for the Willys-Overland Co. of Toledo Ohio.I have a picture of him and his family at work there taken around 1920. S...

The glass cup may have been used for size. Dad used to cook his size in a larger pot and then used a small cup for gilding which he refilled as he went. The Vasaleline may have been used to charge the gilder's tip and the brushes were oiled with lard oil. The lard oil attracts bronze and laminum po...

Were there a lot of extra brushes in the kit, seems like a lot? I love old things, and I agree about all the stories that are likely tied up in that one box. What a treasure. Thanks for sharing the pics. :) Kelly: There were two different types of lettering brushes;the brown handled and the black h...

Now that I can post pictures here I thought I would put up a couple of pictures of an old sign kit I acquired several months ago.Made by the George E.Watson co. of Chicago it came to me as shown.Most of the brushes in it also have the Watson label imprinted on them.The mahl stick is in excellent sha...

I looked around here for a few of the old brush handles, but I have a feeling they went with the Steven Parrish kits to the American Sign Museum. It might be nice if someone can take a photo of a few handles and post them here. They are not fancy at all. Here is a not so good photo of some old hand...

You could also take some dowel stock and cut it to the appropriate length and sand the taper on a disc sander(bench mount) using a fine grit disc.With a little practice,you can get some pretty fine control.I have a small unit that uses a 1"x30" belt combined with a 6" disc purchased a...

Just bought a vintage artist's paint box on e-Bay and am trying to find out some info on the company.A friend found a site with one of their catalogs dated 1905 but there doesn't seem to be much info about it.Apparently the company was formed around 1843 and incorporated in 1895. I have trouble post...

Don't know if this will apply to sable brushes,but there is a bit on the Mack Brush site for re-shaping dagger brushes.Essentially they recommend wetting them lightly and putting a couple of drops of liquid dish detergent in the hair and then forming it to shape while allowing it to dry.Then letting...

Although I don't do a whole lot of lettering,the jobs I do take on are ones that pretty much give me total control over the final product.These mostly include small signs for show car displays and an occasional truck or fire engine. I would agree that the times are definitely a-changin'. Seems like ...

A pinstriper/sign artist by the name of Les Kircher who was from around the Chicago area in the 1970's and then possibly moved to Lompoc California? If he is still alive he would probably be close to 90 years old. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who knew him or of him or a relative. Reason is t...

Many thanks for the prompt response Mike! I hope you don't mind but I posted the picture in a photo album on the Yahoo group I host(the Pinstriper's Page).Thanks again!!!!

Hello Mike: Thank you for the prompt reply.I am checking with a friend of mine in Chicago to see if he has any further info.He is a fellow sign artist and very much into sign related history. I guess this may have been the Deluxe version as it has two of the small metal cans;one holding japan drier ...

....the George E.Watson Co. of Chicago Illinois.Have recently acquired a sign artist's kit manufactured by this company and have been unable to find out any information. The tag on the box says,"Watson's Sign Kit" George E.Watson Company-the,"Paint People" Chicago Ill. Dimensions...

And how the time does fly by.My,"baby" girl turned 40 in May.Our sons are 36 and 33.Unfortunately the youngest who showed real promise early on(he's ambidextrous to boot)elected not to stay with art.The other two enjoy art but that is where their interest ends. My youngest granddaughter(no...

Thanks to all for the input. The gentleman I got the kit from was the grandson of Mr.Stoiber.We were talking last week and he brought me an old sepia print showing his grandfather along with his two brothers and his great-grandfather next to an early 20's automobile.It is unfortunately the only pict...

Was hoping to find some info but I guess not. I did find that the man's name was Carl Stoiber(not Stolber)and he is listed in a 1937 Toledo business directory as a striper.No info on the paint or brushes as yet.

Several things actually: Information on a sign artist named C.J.Stolber who lived and worked in Toledo Ohio in the 1920's and 1930's. I recently acquired his old sign kit. Information on Devoe and Raynolds brushes. Information on RUBICO;a company that made or distributed brushes;gilder's tips in par...