Comments on: Society Of Sign Painters’ Grand Exhibition

By: Peter Holford

Peter Holford — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 16:18:43 +0000

“N.B. No Foreigners, and Dutchmen in particular, will be allowed a Place in the Exhibition.”

A classic example to show xenophobia has been with us for centuries. Of course the French and the Dutch were widely blamed for causing the Great Fire of London almost 100 years previously.

As always, an interesting and eclectic historical piece.

By: Meredith Kasabian

Meredith Kasabian — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:49:50 +0000

Thank you for the opportunity to share my research! It’s an honor to write for Spitalfield’s Life!

If anyone is interested in learning more, we’ll have an exhibition catalogue for sale at the Bargehouse Oxo Tower Wharf, Aug 16-19. The catalogue includes photos of the work in the show, as well as a long-form essay about the Society of Sign Painters’ exhibition and 18th century signs in general.

Andy, the Nonsense Club was a group of journalists, essayists, poets, and playwrights who held regular meetings to share their work and satirize the popular culture of the day. Hogarth is supposed to have attended some of their meetings but he was not officially a member. “The Nonsense Club” by Lance Bertelsen is the authority on the topic.

Joan, I would love to see your photos! My grandfather was a sign painter as well, from the 1930s-70s in Boston, USA. Stop by the Bargehouse gallery (1st floor) between 11am-6pm Aug 16-18 and say hello!

Thanks to all who took the time to read and comment. Hope you can make it to the show!

By: Joan Hebbard

Joan Hebbard — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 11:47:19 +0000

Hi Meredith, My Dad – Frank Hebbard – used to be a pictorial sign writer and painted pub signs for Courage pubs and another brewery (which I temporarily forget) from the 70’s to about 1996. He was employed by Perkins and Sons, (used to be owned by David Perkins until the went into liquidation.) They were based somewhere in Tower Hill. I have lots of sides and photos of his work and also some actual photos of him painting which Courage’s used in adverts (I also have newspaper cuttings.) Funnily enough, Frank (with me doing some very basic filling in,) did a huge sign that went up in front of the OXO Tower when it was being redeveloped. It was so big that it would not fit in our garage where he worked and had to be painted in a local barn. I will try to remember to visit your exhibition and introduce myself to you. Please let me know if you are interested in seeing any of these photos.

By: The old lamplighter

The old lamplighter — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 10:42:47 +0000

Another great profession slowly passing away. As previously written now all plastic and vinyl. I had a neighbour who was a sign writer for a local bus company. I wanted a coach line around my car trying to do it myself was impossible until he got out his gear and in a flash with a long haired brush it was it was done. It’s very sad that things we remember from our youth are slowly disappearing, but meetings like this one and others bring it all back.
Many thanks Gentle Author.

By: Sam Roberts

Sam Roberts — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 10:13:33 +0000

Lovely, thank you very much for featuring the show on your esteemed blog. We look forward to welcoming you for a look around next week. Sam.

By: Andy Altmann

Andy Altmann — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 09:57:57 +0000

What a brilliant piece of history. I’d love to know more about the Nonsense Club?

By: pauline taylor

pauline taylor — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 09:19:27 +0000

If only, if only we could return to the days of hand painted signs on business premises instead of the ghastly plastic monstrosities that are now so popular. Our street, of mainly mediaeval buildings, is suffering from this with plastic signs proliferating despite planning regulations. Hand painted signs contribute so much more to the street scene and anything which improves our quality of life is desperately needed in the times that we live in ~~~ bringing back wooden hand painted signs would be a good start say I ~~~ get rid of plastic wherever possible.

By: John Barrett

John Barrett — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 06:37:44 +0000

Better the sign in the 18-19th C more trade, they talked to the customers big is good enticing them in especially coaching establishments. I’m thinking of old films where signs squeaked as they moved in the wind. An old style sign still survives at the Llandoger Trow pub (timber built) in Bristol of Treasure Island fame. John a poet, Poetry Soc, Bus Pass Poets.