History: Sign painting, sign painters, signs and lettering

History

"We Are Not Superstitious, But We Believe in Signs"

The Gawthorp sign firm in Leeds were renowned in the trade at the turn of the twentieth century.

Colourful mural with Ronald McDonald milking a cow while other characters from his story look on.

People

Uncovering the Spectacular Commercial Art of Wes Cook

A mural at McDonald's, Centralia, Washington, leads Cabel Sasser down a delightful rabbit hole.

Men in overalls posing on/in front of an old car that's hitched to a large trailer adorned with a sign advertising their business.

History

Ye Olde Sign Shoppe at the American Sign Museum

Signs, photos, and other artefacts from sign shops of old in the American Sign Museum's collections.

Hand-drawn lettering in the style of a sign that reads "E. McLellan Signs".

Books

Bookish Good Luck at McLellan Signs in Nampa, Idaho

Jay Smith embraces serendipity to add to his library of sign painting and lettering books.

People

Irish Mosaics: From Roscommon to the World

Vanessa Power gets inspired by Thomas Kilroe, the creative force behind Roscommon's Irish Mosaics.

A bar with bottles of beer on shelves in a window display, and hand-painted lettering on the fascia basking in sunlight.

Places

Signwriting-on-Sea: The Rich Craft Heritage of Hastings, East Sussex

Charlie Nelson on Hasting's signwriting history, and how the town continues to embrace the craft.

Over-the-shoulder view of a woman holding a mahl stick and painting lettering on a sign board.

History

A Fascinating Collection of Hungarian Sign Painting Photos, 1906–1976

Women feature prominently in these archival images of signs and sign painters at work in Hungary.

History

What is Sign Painting? Or Even Signwriting?

Getting under the skin of the fundamental term used to describe the trade and how it's interpreted.

Black and white photo of a trailer decorated with flamboyant lettering advertising a fairground ride.

Events

The Fairground Painters with Amy Goodwin

Dive into the Dingles Fairground Museum collection, and meet the artists that produced the work.

Events

A Sign Painting Exhibition Par Excellence

Review of an incredible exhibition—George Biles: King of Signwriters—held in Bridport, Dorset.

History

🎉 75 Today: Happy Birthday A.S. Handover! 🎉

Wishing all at A.S. Handover a happy 75th birthday, and giving thanks for their continued support.

Lisa Simpson looking at a sign that says "keep out" above another that says "or enter. I'm a sign, not a cop".

Books

¡Ay, Caramba! It's Cartoon Time

Collection of humourous cartoons with sign painting, lettering, type, and calligraphic themes.

Two pictorial signs, one showing a jug and one the head of a tiger. A third pictures a greyhound and lettering that reads "T

History

The Inn Signs Exhibition of 1936

The signs and sign painters that fired up the public's imagination in this one-of-a-kind exhibition.

Sepia photo of a topless man resting his arm on the back of a truck that has hand-painted lettering on the door.

People

A Mystery Sign Painter from 1950s Cuba

Photos of a Cuban sign painter and his work appear on eBay and make their way to Letterform Archive.

Black and white photo of an elderly man with a painter's palette standing in front of a 'Welcome to Bridport' sign.

People

Ye Olde Sign Shoppe: George Biles, King of Signwriters

The diverse and prolific output of sign painter George Biles and his Bridport Signs Service Studios.

Man in a hat in front of a wall and a hand-painted sign with destroyed buildings behind.

History

After the Blitz: The Hand-Painted Signs of London Lost

London Illustrated News feature with painted signs for buildings and businesses lost in the blitz.

Bright pink sign kit with a cartoon sign painter, a list of services, and contact details for Keith Knecht, Toledo, Ohio.

Books

Snapper: Keith Knecht

Keith Knecht shares some of his tales of a travelling sign painter in John J. Hodgins' Snapper book.

Lower two-thirds of bifurcated letters 'RO' with scrolls in their centres and gilded and outlined in black.

Projects

Bringing a Gilded Victorian Transom Window Back to Life

Andy at AJ Signs in Dorset gives a new lease of life to a beautiful piece of Victorian glasswork.