LAST MONTH I SCORED SOME CHEAP ESSO REALTED SIGNS IN JERSEY. THERE WERE 4 TOTAL AND THE GUY SAID THAT IF I BOUGHT ALL THE SIGNS, HE'D THROW THE 4TH ONE IN FOR FREE. THESE WERE ALL PRE-WWII.
SADLY THIS RARE ESSO AVIATION PRODUCTS SIGN (9' X 3') MADE OF TIN SPENT A VERY LONG TIME ON A ROOF IN SOUTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY POSSIBLY USED AS LEAK PROTECTION OR IN PLACE OF TAR PAPER(?). WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT'VE BEEN, THE GUY FOUND THEM (ALL 4 SIGNS) A YEAR AGO WHILE RIPPING OFF SEVERAL LAYERS OF SHINGLES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SIGNS SAT OUTSIDE FOR ABOUT A YEAR IN THE ELEMENTS NOT GETTING OR LOOKING ANY BETTER.
ON
CRAIGS LIST ONE NIGHT I SPOTTED THE SIGNS IN AN AD WITH HORRIBLE PICTURES THAT HIGHLY INTRIGUED ME. I SPOKE TO THE GUY ON THE PHONE AND
MADE PLANS TO COME AND LOOK WITH THE OPTION TO BUY ON SATURDAY JUNE 19TH. LONG STORY SHORT I CAME HOME WITH ALL 4 SIGNS ON MY 10' TRAILER.
HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE SIGN RIGHT OFF THE TRAILER:
I SAVED THE CLEANING AND TOUCH-UP OF THIS HEAVILY INFLICTED FOR LAST AS THE OTHER SIGNS DID QUITE WELL ONCE I PULLED SEVERAL DOZENS OF ROOF NAILS FROM THE FRAMES, REMOVED TAR AND SHINGLES, ETC.
I WOULD BRING OUT THIS ROUGHLY 6-7LB TIN SIGN IN THE COOL MORNING HOURS AND LAY IT FLAT ON MY OUTSIDE 8' X 33" WORK TABLE.
I STARTED BY REMOVING ALL THE FLAKING LOOSE PAINT WHICH MADE THE SIGN LOOK EVEN WORSE. I LIGHTLY SANDED ALL THE HEAVY RUST AND EDGES WHERE THE ORIGINAL PAINT MET THE BARE METAL. FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH A POLY CLEAR COAT TO HELP SEAL THE RUST AND BARE METAL THEN LET IT DRY:
I FOLLOWED ALL THE CLEAR COATED AREAS WITH A SOMEWHAT CLOSE MATCHING CORRESPONDING COLOR. I STARTED WITH RED, USING A FOAM BRUSH IN THE LARGE AREAS AND A TOUCH-UP BRUSH IN THE DETAILED AREAS
WHERE NEEDED:
I FINISHED THE RED AND FOLLOWED UP WITH THE OFF WHITE. HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE SIGN MINUS THE BLUE TOUCH-UPS ABOUT HALF WAY DONE:
