This story appeared in Sign Builder Illustrated magazine.
By Jim Hingst
From August 2 to August 5, 2018 Butch “Superfrog” Anton and his wife Sandy hosted their third Letterhead Geezer Gathering at their home in Lake Park, MN. Along with educational seminars, attendees had the opportunity to enjoy the pleasant weather in the scenic Detroit Lakes vacationland of Northwest Minnesota.
Butch and Sandy Anton hosted the 3rd
annual Letterhead Geezer Gathering at their home in Lake Park, MN. The event featured seminars on
glass gilding, carving and lettering and pinstriping.
annual Letterhead Geezer Gathering at their home in Lake Park, MN. The event featured seminars on
glass gilding, carving and lettering and pinstriping.
Much
of the credit for the success of the Geezer Gathering belongs to Sandy Anton.
During the three days of the event she spent most of her time in the kitchen
cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner for all of the attendees. I am willing to
bet that many of the sign makers at the gathering showed up just to enjoy
Sandy’s scrumptious cooking.
of the credit for the success of the Geezer Gathering belongs to Sandy Anton.
During the three days of the event she spent most of her time in the kitchen
cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner for all of the attendees. I am willing to
bet that many of the sign makers at the gathering showed up just to enjoy
Sandy’s scrumptious cooking.
Sandy Anton spent most of her time in the kitchen cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner for all of the attendees.
The
2018 Geezer Gathering featured seminars on glass gilding, carving and lettering
and pinstriping. Barbara Schilling from Anoka, MN conducted the glass gilding
class. Her demonstration included producing a two tone gilded glass panel. In
her class Barbara described her gilder’s checklist and cheat sheet that she
uses.
2018 Geezer Gathering featured seminars on glass gilding, carving and lettering
and pinstriping. Barbara Schilling from Anoka, MN conducted the glass gilding
class. Her demonstration included producing a two tone gilded glass panel. In
her class Barbara described her gilder’s checklist and cheat sheet that she
uses.
Veteran sign maker, Barbara Schilling,
conducted a glass gilding class covering different techniques to produce a
two-tone gild.
conducted a glass gilding class covering different techniques to produce a
two-tone gild.
“Most
sign makers don’t do glass gilding regularly,” Schilling says. “There are very
specific steps that you must follow to perform a job correctly. So that I don’t
forget any of these critical steps, I have developed a cheat sheet for myself
outlining the procedure.”
sign makers don’t do glass gilding regularly,” Schilling says. “There are very
specific steps that you must follow to perform a job correctly. So that I don’t
forget any of these critical steps, I have developed a cheat sheet for myself
outlining the procedure.”
Barbara
Schilling also explains that “before setting out on a new job, make sure that
you have all of the tools and materials that you need. If you forgot something
back at the shop after arriving at the site, you are usually out of luck.” Schilling
points out that much of the equipment and supplies needed for gold leaf work is
very specialized. You can’t run down to local 7/11 or Ace Hardware and pick up
a gilder’s tip or gold leaf size.
Schilling also explains that “before setting out on a new job, make sure that
you have all of the tools and materials that you need. If you forgot something
back at the shop after arriving at the site, you are usually out of luck.” Schilling
points out that much of the equipment and supplies needed for gold leaf work is
very specialized. You can’t run down to local 7/11 or Ace Hardware and pick up
a gilder’s tip or gold leaf size.
During
her gold leaf seminar, Schilling described several different techniques that
you can use to create a two-tone gild. She also displayed several finished
panels for the attendees.
her gold leaf seminar, Schilling described several different techniques that
you can use to create a two-tone gild. She also displayed several finished
panels for the attendees.
“One
way to create a two-tone effect is to use two colors of gold leaf, such as combining
18 karat Lemon Gold with 23 karat gold leaf,” Shilling says. “That’s not the
only way to create a faux effect in glass gilding. You can also gild part of
the job with water size to produce a mirror finish and gild other parts using
an oil size to create a matte finish.”
way to create a two-tone effect is to use two colors of gold leaf, such as combining
18 karat Lemon Gold with 23 karat gold leaf,” Shilling says. “That’s not the
only way to create a faux effect in glass gilding. You can also gild part of
the job with water size to produce a mirror finish and gild other parts using
an oil size to create a matte finish.”
Some
of the other interesting effects that Schilling explained included gilding on
chipped glass. Schilling describes how you can also create an interesting
texture mixing equal parts of Damar varnish, quick rubbing varnish and
Res-n-gel. “After applying the mixture on glass you can swirl it using the end
of a lettering brush handle,” says Schilling. “After the scrolled texture
hardens you can gild over it, which creates an interesting effect.”
of the other interesting effects that Schilling explained included gilding on
chipped glass. Schilling describes how you can also create an interesting
texture mixing equal parts of Damar varnish, quick rubbing varnish and
Res-n-gel. “After applying the mixture on glass you can swirl it using the end
of a lettering brush handle,” says Schilling. “After the scrolled texture
hardens you can gild over it, which creates an interesting effect.”
Pinstriper Kit Kat
Butch
Anton and Mark Ripley, owner of Ripley’s Ol Skool Pinstriping in Olathe, Kansas,
devoted much of their time instructing the future sign painters on how to hand
letter and pinstripe. In addition to explaining painting techniques, the two
geezers tutored others on job layout, tools of the trade, brush care and color
selection. Butch emphasized the importance of practicing the fundamental skills
and learning from your mistakes.
Anton and Mark Ripley, owner of Ripley’s Ol Skool Pinstriping in Olathe, Kansas,
devoted much of their time instructing the future sign painters on how to hand
letter and pinstripe. In addition to explaining painting techniques, the two
geezers tutored others on job layout, tools of the trade, brush care and color
selection. Butch emphasized the importance of practicing the fundamental skills
and learning from your mistakes.
Mark Ripley, owner of Ripley’s Ol Skool Pinstriping in Olathe, Kansas,
taught the fundamentals of striping to future sign makers and old geezers.
taught the fundamentals of striping to future sign makers and old geezers.
“Everyone
makes mistakes,” explains Butch. “The key is to understand what caused a
failure. That’s what we call a learning experience. You should never let a
mistake discourage you from trying new products or new techniques. You should
always be willing to discover what you can and cannot do with products.”
makes mistakes,” explains Butch. “The key is to understand what caused a
failure. That’s what we call a learning experience. You should never let a
mistake discourage you from trying new products or new techniques. You should
always be willing to discover what you can and cannot do with products.”
After
conducting a training session on the basics of pinstriping, Mark Ripley
pinstriped a 1935 two door Ford sedan. “Pinstriping on panels is good
practice,” Ripley says. “The real test is when you actually pinstripe a car.
That when the rubber hits the road.”
conducting a training session on the basics of pinstriping, Mark Ripley
pinstriped a 1935 two door Ford sedan. “Pinstriping on panels is good
practice,” Ripley says. “The real test is when you actually pinstripe a car.
That when the rubber hits the road.”
Rather than painting panels, the real
test of a pinstriper’s skill is actually striping a car, which Mark Ripley
demonstrated at the gathering.
test of a pinstriper’s skill is actually striping a car, which Mark Ripley
demonstrated at the gathering.
In
pinstriping the Ford, Ripley used Du Pont Hot Hues urethane paint. As part of
his demonstration, he explained how to properly prep a vehicle surface and
layout the job. He also showed the procedure he uses to mix and match a color. In
this particular case, Mark had to match the green, which was painted on the
wheel hubs – not an easy task.
pinstriping the Ford, Ripley used Du Pont Hot Hues urethane paint. As part of
his demonstration, he explained how to properly prep a vehicle surface and
layout the job. He also showed the procedure he uses to mix and match a color. In
this particular case, Mark had to match the green, which was painted on the
wheel hubs – not an easy task.
“Working
with urethanes is a lot different that working with lettering enamels, because
the chemistries of the two paints are
completely different,” says Ripley. “With urethanes you always need a hardener.
The advantage is that finished product is much more durable than lettering
enamel.”
with urethanes is a lot different that working with lettering enamels, because
the chemistries of the two paints are
completely different,” says Ripley. “With urethanes you always need a hardener.
The advantage is that finished product is much more durable than lettering
enamel.”
Maris
Shilling and Butch Anton also provided attendees with instruction on carving
both incised and raised lettering in high
density urethane panels. In teaching carving Maris and Butch explained tools
needed, job layout, and priming and painting carved HDU. Coastal Enterprises,
manufacturer of Precision Board High Density Urethane signboards, provided
materials for the attendees of the gathering to use.
Shilling and Butch Anton also provided attendees with instruction on carving
both incised and raised lettering in high
density urethane panels. In teaching carving Maris and Butch explained tools
needed, job layout, and priming and painting carved HDU. Coastal Enterprises,
manufacturer of Precision Board High Density Urethane signboards, provided
materials for the attendees of the gathering to use.
Maris Schilling showed other sign makers
how to carve incised letters as well as how to sharpen carving gouges.
how to carve incised letters as well as how to sharpen carving gouges.
“What I
like about the Precision Board materials is that they have a complete system of
products matched for compatibility,” says Anton. The Precision Board product
line includes an assortment of different densities of HDU along with adhesives, texturing materials, primers and
paints which are compatible with the signboard. “The people at Coastal Enterprises are also very responsive,”
he says. “When you have questions, they get back to you right away with answers
you can depend on.”
like about the Precision Board materials is that they have a complete system of
products matched for compatibility,” says Anton. The Precision Board product
line includes an assortment of different densities of HDU along with adhesives, texturing materials, primers and
paints which are compatible with the signboard. “The people at Coastal Enterprises are also very responsive,”
he says. “When you have questions, they get back to you right away with answers
you can depend on.”
Geezer Gathering host, Butch Anton,
painting a HDU carving. He endorses the Precision Board line of products, which
includes an assortment of different densities of HDU along with adhesives, texturing materials, primers and
paints.
painting a HDU carving. He endorses the Precision Board line of products, which
includes an assortment of different densities of HDU along with adhesives, texturing materials, primers and
paints.
After
priming an HDU carving, you can finish the decoration using sign enamels.
priming an HDU carving, you can finish the decoration using sign enamels.
In
addition to Precision Board, other vendors, who helped sponsor the Geezer Gathering
included Ronan Paint, Rapid Tac and DuPont. These generous companies provided
samples of their products for the attendees for use during the event.
addition to Precision Board, other vendors, who helped sponsor the Geezer Gathering
included Ronan Paint, Rapid Tac and DuPont. These generous companies provided
samples of their products for the attendees for use during the event.
As
the Geezer Gathering was wrapping up, Butch Anton captained his pontoon boat treating the
attendees to a tour of Big Cormorant Lake, which adjoins his three acre estate.
The maritime excursion capped off the enjoyable and informative three-day get
together.
the Geezer Gathering was wrapping up, Butch Anton captained his pontoon boat treating the
attendees to a tour of Big Cormorant Lake, which adjoins his three acre estate.
The maritime excursion capped off the enjoyable and informative three-day get
together.
A view of Big Cormorant Lake from the Anton homestead.
About Jim Hingst: Sign business authority on vehicle wraps, vinyl graphics, screen printing, marketing, sales, gold leaf, woodcarving and painting.
After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.
Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer. Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.
Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 190 articles for publications, such as Signs Canada, SignCraft, Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 500 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published. Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon.
© 2018 Jim Hingst, All Rights Reserved.