Ye Olde Sign Shoppe

Elderly man standing in front of an enormous fading painted sign advertising Sam Caldwell & Co., Painters & Decorators..

People

Meet Chuck Keiger, Sam Caldwell's Cincinnati Walldog

Story of sign painter and walldog Chuck Keiger, painter of Cincinnati's Sam Caldwell ghost sign.

Close-up of a hand applying paint to a wall with letters outlined in masking tape.

People

The Magic of Mr Masking, Costa Rica's King of Tape

The typographic vernacular of Gerardo Picado's masked and painted letters in San José, Costa Rica.

People

That Saturday Afternoon Jaunt with John Frazier, Original Letterhead

The designs and drawings of John Frazier, Letterhead, designer, letterer, sign painter, and artist.

Archival photo of a sign painter standing at the entrance to his shop with is adorned with numerous signs.

History

Ye Olde Sign Shoppe: Denmark's Adolf Andersen

A remarkable archival collection reveals the story of Danish sign painter Adolf Andersen.

Books

Bonus Material from BLAG 02: Exclusive to Members

Exclusive bonus material for subscribers to BLAG (Better Letters Magazine), building on the articles and features in Issue 02.

History

Ernie Harrison and His Fearless Crew of Lincoln Painters

Under the leadership of Ernie Harrison, the Arthur B. Wright decorating firm scaled new heights.

Portion of book cover with an illustration of a person painting the word 'SIGNS'.

Books

Signpainters Don't Read Signs by Syl Ehr

Signpainters Don't Read Signs (1957) by Syl Ehr published as a digital download in seven parts.

"Grave No.7, approx. 800, April, 1945" and "Grave No.2, approx. 5,000, 24th April 1945"

History

Sign Painting the Horror of the Belsen Concentration Camp

The sign painting work of Reginald Price commemorating the dead at Belsen concentration camp.

Books

This is How Signs in London's Heyday Were Painted

Full text and accompanying images from the 'Sign Production' chapter of Ghost Signs: A London Story.

History

Ye Olde Sign Shoppe: Smeed's Smart Signs

The story of Smeed's Smart Signs in Herne Bay, Kent, and its surviving gilded glass shopfront.

People

Juan 'el Petudo': Sign Painting King of La Palma

Barely known outside of the Canary Islands, Juan Santana Martin was a renowned local sign painter, leaving a lasting legacy.

Places

Vintage Sign Painter Kits at the American Sign Museum

Sign painter kits on show at the American Sign Museum, including a new late-19th century acquisition.

History

‘Tickets’ and the French Sign Painter in London

'Tickets' and his sign painting partner are trying to make ends meet in London's sign game in the 1870s.

Detail of hand-painted and gilded fairground ride.

People

Stunning Photos of Vintage Fairground Signs by Fred Fowle

Previously unpublished photos and film about legendary fairground artist and signwriter, Fred Fowle.

People

Celebrity Signwriters, Past & Present

Famous people with sign painting connections, including Duke Ellington, Eric Gill and Sylvia Pankhurst.

Books

Karl Blaschke: Sign Man of Munich

Book documenting (and mapping) the life and work of Munich's all-round sign man Karl Blaschke.

Films

When Better Letters Met Cliff Headford

Short documentary film about retired sign painter Cliff Headford (RIP), including archival photos.