The billboard (July-Dec 1898)

ili Sign and Sign Painters. Do not try to get your lettering too large. Leave a good broad space between borders and between lines, and give plenty of room between letters. This is the secret of why a hand-painted sign looks better than a type- printed one. and for the same reason why a block-printed poster looks better than a type- printed poster. Type, generally speaking, is made to get the greatest number of Utters into a given space, much to the detraction, too. of the general appearance of the printed matter. An extended, roomy-looking Utter with good space between lines, is much more effective than large, closely crowded type on the same space. Care should be taken to get strong con- trasts between lettering and ground, and at the same time not sacrifice harmony. A very pleasing effect is had in a cheap sign by a black letter on a straw or light yellow ground with dull orange shafing. Do not get the orange too bright, as it is not so good as a more subdued tone, say "russet- orange." A "new" sign painter is too prone to orna- ment and embellish. To such we would like to say that a poorly lettered job looks still more "poorly" if an attempt is made by in- experienced hands to cover the defects in the lettering by various "didoes" and "whirli- gigs." Let scrolling and ornamenting alone, son. If you can net make a good letter, you will make a worse scroll, and the "tout en- semble" would give the muse a spasm. In "bringing up" work from the raw sur- face, whether it be metal or wood, the best effects are to be had by making the prelimin- ary coatings of paint flat, or partially so. Es- pecially is this true for signs that are to be lettered in gold or silver leaf. If the letter- ing is to be done in dark colors on a light ground, make the last coat gloss only, as it is a well-demonstrated fact that a gloss coat "glosses" better over Cat undercoats. Allen E. Harbaugh. On another page of this issue we print a portrait of Allen E. Harbaugh, of Mill Run, Pa., recently appointed Secretary of the Com- mi ttee of Arrangements of the National Sign Painters' Alliance. Mr. Harbaugh was born In Springfield, Fay- ette County, Pa., July 7, 1849, and is there- fore forty-nine years of age. , He is a sign painter of great talent and ability, and a writer of great force and character. In early life he was a journalist, filling his first as- signment at sixteen years of age. He is an artist, too. of rare attainments, being equally at home in portraiture, landscapes or ani- mals. He embarked regularly in sign paint- ing for the first time in 1871, and has .followed it steadily ever since. •■ Just at present he is devoting himself prin- cipally to bulletin fence and rock painting in three counties adjacent to Connellsville. His work has obtained much attention His methods are decidedly original. He searches out the principle and grasping it. the thought is assimilated and filters through the alem- bic of his mind; nature is reproduced and re- flected as in a mirror under the magical touch of brush or pen. He was married in 1877 and has three sons and two .daughters. He is al- most constantly busy at bis painting and art work. His ardent admirers call him the "poet-artist," as he has the happy faculty of reaching the heart and sweeping the chords in unison. Quite recently he wrote and published a pioneer history of the township, in which he reEirieft and it obtained wide attention in that locality. I A ft Notes-. SODA PAINT.—Dissolve one-hair p>-und of soda lye in rain water, preferably in the sun. Previously stir In 5 pounds of starch in cold water (as soft as possible) and nonr the e*is- polved soda slowly and carefully irto this. The starch is rendered thick thereby, and when it has attained a transparent? gla- tiaous appearance, stop pouring in the lye. Then allow the «f»rch to Etand for awhile. The above is said to make a cheap and last- ing filler. Possibly its cheapness wculd rec- ommend It to sign painters as a substitute for cheap work. - e nature of the mixture indicates that it should be -excluded from the air. This reminds me that shellac dissolved in soda lye (sal soda! makes an excellent covering for grease spots. Brussels" Size for gilding Is made by taking equal parts of common molasses such as found in stores, and the yolk of an egg. well mixed. The places to be gilded are coated with this. It Is almost the color of gold, and one coat is generally sufficient. The w?y this size is made in this country is by mixing yolks of eggs with glycerine by shaking the rlvcerine and egg together. It is understood, of course, that these sizes must be used thin and indoors. The thinner is warm water, added to the size, warmed somewhat. A lead pencil in the hands of a small boy is the curse of bill posters. On a huge sign board on Grand Avenue .U an advertisement of a centring match with two l»nn hounds hot on the trail of a bounding rabbit, who i=? always just a little ahead— eneugh to be oi-t of danger. Some youngster, has written this serawl underneath, making Sir Bunny ex- rlain hi-, own proweser "I eat — break- far t food."—Los Angeles Call. Aluirinum silver bronze possesses a very handsome soft lustre, which, unfortunately, vanishes partly in the air. Aluminum silver leaf, however, has been found to be far pre- ferable to silver. There is no doubt that the painter will yet owe many an improvement to the aluminum, metal.—Painters Magazine. , We want photographs or odd signs and I signs of queer design. THE BILLBOARD. Sign by Gtis H. She pherd, City Billposter, Ventura, Cal. Aluminum gold bronze consists of 5 to 10 parts aluminum and 90 to 95 parts copper, and gives a durable gold-like bronze. With copper and zinc cheaper alloys are obtained. Mixtures of aluminum with ordinary gold bronze are also offered for sale, but these are less recommended than those prepared from the molten alloy. A good way to lay off letters on glass is to first smear whiting and water on the oppo- site side to which the letters are to appear, then with a sharp stick mark out the let- ters on the whiting. These outlines may be easily followed on the other side. After- wards wash off the whiting. There are many methods of making sizes for outside work. The one that has been in vogue for years is to take a small quantity of boiled oil, litharge and red lead. Set aside and shake often until bleached, then draw off in a bottle. Thin with turpentine. We want photographs of good signs, odd signs and big signs. VVnenever you have done anything that ycu are proud of, have it photographed and send us a copy. We will reproduce it in these columns, and give you full credit for its execution. Detroit has a School of Sign Painting. It is located at £9 Woodward Av. A cheap restaurant in the East End of Lon- don displays before its patrons a card on which is written this advice: "Do not tip the waiter. He makes more than the owner and has half a day off."—Tid Bits. President O'Mealia will call the next meeting of the Executive Committee for the second week of November probablv about the seventh or eighth of the month. Charges against the Omaha member have been filed, and, it is understood, pressed. It is hoped that no drastic ac- tion will be taken. Mrs. Mulvihill wants to do right, and tries hard to give good service. It is help and advice she i eeds more than censure. We learn with considerable pleasure that the United Billposters' Association of Great Britain is considering the advisa- bility of sending an ambassador to attend our convention at Milwaukee next July. He will beentertained in great stvle. ASSOCIATED BILLPOSTERS Of tie United States and Canada—Official List of Officers and Committees. OI'I-'ICKKS. President - J. p. O'Mealia, Jersey Citv. X. J. " " Vice-President—J. II. Simpson, San Francisco, Cal. Secretary—J. Ballard Carroll, Albany X. V. •" Treasurer-Chas P. Bryan, Cleveland Ohio. HOARD OV IHRKCTOKS. Samuel 1'ratt. New Vork City. Geo. M. Leonard, Grand Rapids, Mich. Al. Bryan, Cleveland, Ohio. E-lward A. Suililhrudt. Rochester.N. Y. <). J. Glide, New Y. rk City. lvhvard C. Donnelly. Boston, Mass. Robert C. Campbell", Chicago. 111. President J. p. O'Mealia, Jersey City, X. I.. ex-officio. Secretary J. Ballard Carroll, Albany, X. Y., ex-ollicio. OI-KIC1AI. REPRESENTATIVES. \Y. H. Donaldson, 127 E. Eighth street, Cincinnati, Ohio. Edward A. Stahlbrodt, 7 Park Place, Xew York City. O. J. Gude Co, 113 \V. Broadway, Xew York City. C. B. Hood Co., 136 Madison street, Chicago, 111. Union Advertising Bureau, 307 North Third street, St. Louis, Mo. C. S. Houghtaling, 7 Park Place, Xew York City. OFFICIAL ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS. Stiefel & Gilbert, 3S Park Row, Xew York City. ARBITRATION COMMITTEE. EASTERN. C. C. Ames, Providence. R. I. John G. Reese. Scranton, Pa. Chas. P. Filbrick, Buffalo, X. Y. WESTERN. Chas. K. Hager. St. Louis, Mo. Prank Fitzgerald, Milwaukee, Wis. H. \V. Walker, Detroit, Mich. " Over a million dollars invested ! " Ow ! Wouglt! What a line. Talk about the circulation claims of the newspapers, some ofour billposters are not so slow. THE BILLBOARD Horticultural Building, Trans-Mississippi International.Exposition, Omaha, Neb. Advertisers will pay I. A. of I), members more for their service than they will inde- pendent or unuttached members. This fact is proved daily. The idea that poE3ess.es some members and makes them believe that they are compelled to underbid every inexperi- enced and idle boy who possesses a Eaek and a letter-head is all wrong. The way to do is to figure carefully on the weight, bulk and instructions. Ask a fair price and then give a thorough service. Every time you can advance your prices, it will en- able you to improve your service. The Soliciting Secretary of the Internation- al Association of Distributors sends out a valuable list of tips monthly, but it goes to association members only. Any distributor can advertise in "The Hill- board." whether he be a member of the as- sociation or not. \V. H. Stelnbrenner put out 180,000 pieces the week of the G. A. It. E11ca1upm.nl. Ad- vertisers arc beginning to follow the big con- ventions closely. With this issue, we commence the publica- tion of a standing list of the members of the International Association of Distributors It is arranged alphabetically by States and cities, and will prove a great convenience to advertisers and the officers of the association. Members are charged one dollar per vear for their names in this list, provided their names and address take up but one line. If they take more than one line and not over two lines, the charge is two dollars; three lines, three dollars, etc. The charge of one dollar per line is for twelve months' advertising, or a whole year and it's good advertising and will worth the money. Watch the trade conventions in your city Many a manufacturer will send vou work for distribution in the convention hall if you notify him in time. Next year, if your town has n fair or a street fair, apprise all manufacturers of ag- ricultural implements, fertilizers, acrmotors etc.. and publishers of agricultural papers. It will pay If you tell them far enough ahead. , T ? e J- £■• ° { n - '"ember at Newcastle. Pa. is J. G. Loving. .•. Th S, C J^ inna,i PoIice Department went into the distributing business just before the big li. A. R. Encampment. One of the follow- ing circulars was delivered by each policeman to every householder on his brat: • ATTENTION! Read the Contents of this Circular Carefully and Act Accordingly. The Grand Army of the Republic will hold its Annual Encampment in this city com- mencing Sept. 5 and enoing Sept. 10. In ad- dition to our population, a large number of ™°. P L° W ".' COme to C| nclnnati to witness the ™If™- etC 'V et ?- As UfUal U P°» su «* oc- casions, professional thieves rrom all parts ?„ »f c ??". iTy wi " oome hcrp anl > endeavor to ply their vocation. To prevent this as much as possible. His Honor, the Mayor, di- rects that the Police Department use overv means in its power to give the people its rull'- nHshed h^'Th Thls ,a " be bin,,r «'•'■•>»>- 5,™; ,,% .. y i ne cooperation of citizens. 1 would therefore respectfully recommend to i,»,"?. 0 „ Ple W J 1 °. , " ,<-1 "' to """ess the parade. ,.» a if. 1 .? 0n thal day tlu 'y close their houses arefully and secure their valuables. SU eh as i' n VJ. y an ? mo "ey. so that any attempt made to enter the premises will prove unsuccess- ful It would be better lr some one was left XL. , .. ,har se of the premises duiing the rtSnl ".""'u' especially in the outlying fn ih» !■' I , w "V ld al8 ° ''specially recommend «« ni« Phi 0 " 1 " V ,at ,h, ' y takp as ""I" »>o»«y ILE? Ib,e a ." u "° ^'wtlfy and watches with J™,* 11 «"y witness the parade, and to m£°. . p E"E ptl5r to t,,la 1'eadquniters, or the nearest Police Station, any theft committed. Vi ■ mov »'nients of suspieious poisons. ■ n, « '""""f |R f "">' I'" pond to meet niy emergency, but with the co-operation cf mr people a great deal more may be aw- om- Mtshcd. Py order of C5USTAV TAKKL, Mayor. PHIL. DEITSCH. Supt. of Police. n,!e V V.7.i' a, '!f",Y ,n .*"* " lso Presented with «•»,„ i . l,c follnwl, " t ,H " |S - «"<! vcrballv wiirmd to cnmrly with the ordt<v .Notice to Owners and Drivers of Hackc: nils card must be exhibited to each adult person before a bargain is made for the hire v„.!.i r V" lcl "- «»">er penalty of the law. .number of conch,—; mum- of owner. • ."."."nL° f ,lrlvor - • n " Us of fan- for adult passengers, each r.O cents; children over ten years, each. 2f. cents; children under ten years, free. Each person may without addi- tional charge have conveyed a trunk, nnd for each additional trunk. 2T. cents. All other articles occupying 11 sent, weighing over thlr- T y ,» p 1 nu «; d8 ' 2r * 0< '" t8 - »y order of Giistnv of P || ° r: p en " s, '». Superintendent %:; *?/*. Tho Dr. Chase Co.. of Philadelphia, Pa , have decided that owing to bad crop, drought and the unfavorable outlook in California they will not break into the Pacific Coast ter- litory this year. It may be that next fall, if times improve in the West, they will add the ecast to their territory. One I. A. of D. member may not invade the t-rntory of another on pain of expulsion from the association. Tho Prickly Ash Hitters Co.. of St. Louis are sending out booklets. Distributors should write them. Murphy's Acknowledgement. I take this method of sincerely thao'eng my mends for the many courtesies extended to m.• during my recent trip to the West. While i?. ? unaI °. I was-grandly entertained by G*o Blf istiue and John A. Rudolf. They made tile occasion one long to be remembered by me At Cleveland. O.. Charles F. Bryan made my visit extremi ly pleasant. In Chicago. Rob- fit C. Campbell and hs family gave nie proof of such genuine home-like hospitality that made my \i:it there a delight. In Milwaukee. Pat Shannon, of the Riverside Printing Com- pany, and his family made the days go by most agreeably. And last, but not least Frank A. Fitzgerald, of the Cream City Bill Posting Company, made a splendid finish to one of the most agreeable trips I ever ex- perienced. To each and all of these I ofTer hearty and sincere thanks. THOMAS J. MURPHY. Providence. C. C. Ames, proprietor of the Old Colony Billposting Co.. has purchased the boards of Chas. F. Haskins, and now controls Providence. wMm « c £#^^£y-\r ■:■■■■■■ E. DEL VALLE, Brownsville, Texas. The I.arkin Soap Co.. of P.uflnlo. N. Y.. is using the services of distiibutcrs. Write them. E. del Valle. _ The subject of this brief sketch enjoys the Gistinction of biing the only member of the Internationcl Association or Distiibutors who owns a franchise situated in Mexico. He is general manager of Valle Bros. Advertis- ing Co.. of Brownsville. Texas, and Mata- innras. Mexico. He is a Mexican by birth and first saw the light at Matamoras in K7S. He embarked in the distributing business in 1S95. and has been successful. At Brownsville he also owns the bill posting plant. He enjoys e.\e. Ilent t-tnnding locrlly. and r.U hi-, partons snenk vciy highly of his service. Bcfld.s the (owns mentioned above, he also e'lsti Unites in Pt. Isnb. I. Hidalen. Cnero. Yoakum. Corpus Cluisti and Ilccville. all in Texas. On another page of this issue xe repi-jduee a portrait of the late Moses Wolf, bill poster, of Dayton. O.. notice of whose death appeared 111 our September issue. Additional Associated News. Billf esters' The quarantine is raising Cain with the Memphis bill posters. The city is quaran- tined against the world. No shows are al- lowed to enter the city. The Billboard is the recognized and accepted authority on billposting, dis- tributing, sign painting and exhibiting in America. At the forthcoming liiteting of the Executive Committee, in November, the new seal of the organization and the new certificate will 1 e formally adopted It is hardly likely that the charges preferred by Bryan & Co. against the American of Pittsturg will be pressed. The Association is growing at a mest satisfactory rate. At the last meeting of the Executive Committee official attorneys presented a bill for $100 for attending the Buffalo meeting. T ere was a great kick, but it was promptly paid. Perhaps the bill for J300 which has been owing The Billboard for over three years will now be paid. _ It has been ignored, sidetracked, pigeon holed and tabled so often, though, that there is no telling what is yet in store for it. It is a legitimate, honest debt of the association, audit would be interesting to know why many debts contracted since it became due have been paid, while it was persistently ignored. Every member should keep in mind the resolution adopted at Buffalo, viz : Resolved, ■ hatthememters of this Association be requested to furnish a list of locations on all contracts call- ing- for a "listed and protected" t?me display, and mail such list to the firm or agent sending out the work within three days after the date of posting. The penalty for failure to comply with the same will be a forfeiture of the amount of the bill. A list is designed to afford an adver- tiser an opportunity of checking up a display during the life of said display. It is oc no use whatever if sent after the paper is dead, or when the showing is about to expire. Three days is plenty of time. Any billposter who wishes to com- ply with the rule can do so without in- convenience. Those -who do not will forfeit one or two bills, ami then they, too. will find it comparatively easy to obey the man- date. The Billboard is in receipt of inquiries almost daily from billposters, who con- template joining the association, and who want to know what the expense will be. The dues are as follows: Cities of 1,900 to 15,000, $2.50. Cities of 15.0CO to 25,000, $5.00. Cities of 25,000 to 50,000, $ 10.00. Cities of 50,000 to 100,000, $15.00. Cities of 100,000 to 500,000, $25.00. Cities of 500,000 to 1,000,000, $50.00. Cities of over 1,000,000, $75 00. J. Ballard Carroll, secretary, -^ Beaver street, Albany, N. Y.. will furnish appli- cation blanks and detailed information, upon application. The billposters' paste btush manufac- tured by Rennous, Kleinle & Co., of Bal- timore, Md.. is a great favotite R. C. Campbell, of Chicago, recommends it very highly. "Short Talks on Advertising," by Chas. Austin Pates, has made its appearance. It is printed 011 good paper, poorly bound, and the text is not up to Bates" usual standard. The illustrations, however, are excellent. It was rumored last month that Van Bcu- ren & Co. of Memphis had consolidated with H. S. Douglas, of tho same city. Investiga- tion, however, proved that there was no truth in the reports. Cadillac Free Street Fair.