I've thought about trying the image transfer using matte medium that Jeff Goldenberg describes in MR Favorite Projects (Winter 2022). When I try to search "50's building ads", "60's wall ads", etc. I keep getting offers to buy vintage signs and such. Any ideas where to find some images, preferably free ones? What search description would you suggest?
Thanks for any help.
A while back there was a contributor here that ran a thread called "Yes! More signs for your layout" by tomkat-13. He posted thousands of signs, mostly smaller varieties and some, unfortunately, were rather low resolution.
He has since continued posting signs on Facebook and you can view and "save image as" from his Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/MissouriArkansasRailway/
You will get hounded to "log in" or join Facebook. I ignore these. If you scroll his "feed" or whatever they call it, you will find pages where tomkat has uploaded quite a few images. These are mostly in better resolution and can be manipulated and "cleaned up" using a photo editing suite.
For a larger wall sign you might have to do a little more editing but if you're familiar with the photo software you should be OK.
I have a Flickr album with some of Tomkat's signs after I cleaned them up a little here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gmpullman/albums/72157662432091007
While you're at Flickr you might find some decent photos of building signs you can use there.
https://www.flickr.com/groups/10285999@N00/pool/
I found this example in about twenty seconds:
Coca-Cola Ghost Sign - Mooresville by Adam Prince, on Flickr
There are other groups at Flickr dealing with vintage downtown scenes.
The Library of Congress and the National Archives is another place to look.
https://www.loc.gov/search/?in=&q=building+sign&new=true&st=
Posters can also be used as a starting point for wall signs:
Untitled by Mary Watkin, on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=vintage%20poster
Good Luck, Ed
Thanks,
I'll check them out and see how well I can manipulate them with the photo editing software.