Gary, the globes that were made in Sweden sometimes were etched where the logos were painted. My original Esso oval globe is made like that. After the etching (don't know how that was done) the logos were painted and "fired" on with a small kerosene "heat gun". The older paints also contained lead which helped to make the paint stick and last. I have seen this method in an exhibition in the old glaziery that actually made the globes.
I bought a new British "Shellmex" globe last year and as you say, the text is a brittle water decal that almost falls off by itself. If I keep this globe, I will mask the letters and carefully glassbead the area, check the mask and then paint.
regards,
Claes
