barn.jpg

Barn Lettering

Posted by 141drew Posted onJan 31, 2014 at 2:59 PM and filed under Projects
Updated onUpdated on May 28, 2021 at 11:40 AM


Just down a country road from me lives an older gentlemen that has a passion for vintage railroad buildings. So much so, that he has bought 5 or 6 of them, deconstructed them, and then reconstructed them on his property. He’s now renting them out to small businesses and has created a wonderful little office park.

One of these buildings is seen in this terrible little thumbnail:



The above has gotten absolutely stuck in my head and I’ve decided I’m going to do some hand lettering of my own on my new shop. You can see the build thread for that one here.

Anyway, I’m now on the prowl for other inspirational shots of hand lettering and old buildings and thought I would poll you guys for what you have. Post some photos if you have them!


See Comments on the forum.

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Terranova

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As the son of a sign man, I've heard a million stories about painting buildings.
Number one piece of advice:
Don't step back to far on the scafolding to admire your work!
 
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bczygan

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Google search images for Mailpouch barns:

https://www.google.com/search?q=mail+pouch+barns&client=firefox-a&hs=Awi&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:eek:fficial&tbm=isch&imgil=PK82SpwBDRia_M%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcRVTS28a-5J-JcxGnU_jSWewslbjqIIt2lgpa7_sDTg97C_fZCh%253B350%253B263%253BfmAlpaCJ554d0M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fen.wikipedia.org%25252Fwiki%25252FMail_Pouch_Tobacco_Barn&source=iu&usg=__hXPROOxGloxEqZc421A_t7XrwZ0%3D&sa=X&ei=ViTsUr-mIcb4yAGlpIHgDg&ved=0CD4Q9QEwAA&biw=1152&bih=524#imgdii=_

83992_mailpouch.jpg
 
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bczygan

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Other barn signs and hex signs:

https://www.google.com/search?q=mail+pouch+barns&client=firefox-a&hs=Awi&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:eek:fficial&tbm=isch&imgil=PK82SpwBDRia_M%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcRVTS28a-5J-JcxGnU_jSWewslbjqIIt2lgpa7_sDTg97C_fZCh%253B350%253B263%253BfmAlpaCJ554d0M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fen.wikipedia.org%25252Fwiki%25252FMail_Pouch_Tobacco_Barn&source=iu&usg=__hXPROOxGloxEqZc421A_t7XrwZ0%3D&sa=X&ei=ViTsUr-mIcb4yAGlpIHgDg&ved=0CD4Q9QEwAA&biw=1152&bih=524#q=barn+signs&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:eek:fficial&tbm=isch&imgdii=_
 
S

Stuart in MN

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bczygan said:
Google search images for Mailpouch barns:
Click to expand...

There are some interesting stories about the painters who did the Mail Pouch barns. They'd travel around the country on a regular route, painting new barns and re-painting old barns that had faded. There was an art to painting the letters so they looked proportional from the road as people drove by.
 
T

The Hot Rod Grille

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bczygan said:
Google search images for Mailpouch barns:

https://www.google.com/search?q=mail+pouch+barns&client=firefox-a&hs=Awi&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:eek:fficial&tbm=isch&imgil=PK82SpwBDRia_M%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcRVTS28a-5J-JcxGnU_jSWewslbjqIIt2lgpa7_sDTg97C_fZCh%253B350%253B263%253BfmAlpaCJ554d0M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fen.wikipedia.org%25252Fwiki%25252FMail_Pouch_Tobacco_Barn&source=iu&usg=__hXPROOxGloxEqZc421A_t7XrwZ0%3D&sa=X&ei=ViTsUr-mIcb4yAGlpIHgDg&ved=0CD4Q9QEwAA&biw=1152&bih=524#imgdii=_

83992_mailpouch.jpg
Click to expand...




We had a Mail Pouch barn on the farm where I grew up that was painted by Harley Warrick (the last of the Bloch Brothers Tobacco barn painters). We sold the farm several years ago, but I have been fortunate to acquire the 4' x 8' sign in the pic below. I also have a 2nd version of the sign that has the "treat yourself to the best" logo on the bottom. Both signs were painted, signed and dated by Harley Warrick. Sadly, Mr Warrick passed away, so I treasure the signs as a reminder of my childhood. The smaller sign in the pic is a metal version on a wooden frame. It appears to be a mass-produced item that bears no artist information. I have seen a couple of them in antique shops during my travels, so they are not especially rare.

Jim
 

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Marion3

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That's too funny there is a barn about 3 miles down the road from me that if you look at the right time in between the house and brush overgrowing the barn you can see " chew mail pouch tabacco". Way cool to see some of it on here
 
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jlckmj

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You're bringing back great memories of the "Mail Pouch", "Rexall Drugs", "See Rock City" and many other barn paintings that I've seen as a kid.
Click to expand...

Don't forget the burma shave signs.

Jim
 
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Bjm364

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This is an old brewery in a small town in wisconsin. I have dreamed about buying it and starting a craft brewery there. Sadly i have to live in the real world where one has to work for a living. Pictures do not do it justice.
2c3cf8d70fbd084e21b0be420c6c4ed2.jpg
 
L

Lippyp

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The French were very good at painting adverts on the side of buildings, you still see them. Theres a few I'll try and get photos of when I'm next over at Easter, most are for various brands of Pastis or Mineral water but theres an old TOTAL petrol one near me too.

Have a look here, this is one of the garages at the Brooklands Motor racing circuit, dates back to the 1920's.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarah_east/5482058832/

Not to mention the iconic pits at the old Reims road racing circuit, now restored back to their former glory. This is at the side of a normal road.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stewartatkins/5809876120/
 
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Nighttrain

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Ryan over in bastrop in the downtown there is a corner store that they still have signs painted on it. I drove by there last year and an old guy was hand painting them up on a scaffold. It may be a good contact. And for the old railroad building on 290 I drive by them daily and really enjoy seeing them. He just brought in 3 or 4 train cars. Hope he turns one into a dinner
 
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4xdog

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In Noble County, Ohio, December 2011 near my home area of Southeastern Ohio -- an adjacent county I never travelled through much growing up.

i-QwzFn7G-L.jpg
 
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oberst

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Here's a couple of ideas that I liked.
 

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JC23

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Check with the group called Walldogs. They paint signs on walls of towns in the old styles. Don't know if there are any down your way but they are up here plenty. In fact, I will likely join up with them in 2015 for a paint in PA.

And if you wanna do it yerself, I can tell ya how...
 
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JJK

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Some local flavor, I wish I had a better shot of Camp Mabry signage. I noticed the other day its been touched up and much brighter so I guess i need to snap a pic soon.










 
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strnge

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We have a bunch of building paintings like that around here. I will have to take some photos for you.
 
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mdkingsley

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I live close to Chattanooga Tn. There were a few natural wonders in the area that used barn painters for the advertising such as See Rock City, Ruby Falls, and Sequoyah Caverns. Sequoyah Caverns closed last year, you don't think about it until they are gone. I wish i would have went, it was just over the mountain from my home. You can google and see the news paper article about the history and the closing.
 
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dos zetas

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That horse dealer sign is a historic treasure, in my opinion.
Nice to see this thread, I am about to paint my stable's name on the gable end of my barn, using old lettering styles. Waitin for warm weather.
It will say "Establo Dos Zetas - Mules and Donkeys" and have a picture of one of my fine *** asses on it.
 
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petveedub

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I don't know if he painted any barns, but one of the few things I know about my grandfather is that he painted coca-cola billboards as a young man. Does anyone know if they advertised on barns or buildings at all?
 
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serviceguy

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Marion3 said:
That's too funny there is a barn about 3 miles down the road from me that if you look at the right time in between the house and brush overgrowing the barn you can see " chew mail pouch tabacco". Way cool to see some of it on here
Click to expand...

Well, it would be spelled correctly in Italian...
 
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petveedub

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Tamper84 said:
175316_orig.jpg


I know they painted the sides of buildings, but I did find this picture of an old barn.
Click to expand...

Thanks Tamper. I guess I could have just done a search, but it hadn't crossed my mind in a while.

My mother was adopted by my grandparents later in their life, and by the time my brothers and I were born they really didn't know what to do with us.

I know he fought in WWII, I know he painted coca-cola signs, I know he was the custodian of a large church throughout my childhood, and I know that I wish I could have known him better.

Sorry to get sentimental, but I've imagined him painting those signs many times in my life and really would have loved to see it.
 
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