Lettering color on early steam

[NW Mailing List]

Larry; The article from Charlie Schlotthober from about two years ago
covering the use of aluminum paint on passenger locomotives and the eventual
standardization of the tender side lettering in 1941 in imitation gold paint
has internal memos from N&W officials that refer to the use of gold paint on
the 1900's freight locomotives and not gold leaf.  

 

One would also have to think that the time to paint lettering in gold paint
would be much less than applying gold leaf and adhesive to the locomotive
cab side.  Paint as a technology didn't really develop until the early
1900's and started in Germany as a section of their developing chemical
technology and chemical business.  Gold leaf was probably the way to go in
the 1800's comparing the results to 1880 paint.  But, by the early 1900's,
wouldn't paint be likely and lower cost in material and application time?  

 

Thinking this way, when might the change over from gold leaf to gold paint
have occurred?

 

Gary Rolih

Cincinnati

 

 

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From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
[mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 7:20 PM
To: NW Mailing List
Subject: Re: Lettering color on early steam

 

Gary

 

   " This was not used on locomotives" 

 

What do you base this statement on? I do not have any first hand knowledge
about Locomotive lettering with gold leaf.

But I do know for fact the N&W and C&O used real gold leaf in passenger
applications. And would think it would

be in the realm of possibility that in the day they may have use it on
passenger locomotives as the drawing suggest.

 

Larry

 

 

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: NW <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>  Mailing List 

To: 'NW <mailto:nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>  Mailing List' 

Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 5:50 PM

Subject: RE: Lettering color on early steam

 

Strictly speaking gold leaf is gold beaten extensively between two sheets of
leather so that it forms an extremely thin sheet, about 0.001" thick and
thinner. Gold is a very soft, plastic metal in pure form.  This thin sheet
would be cut up adhesively applied to jewelry and furniture.  This
technology goes back centuries.  This was not used on locomotives.  Too
expensive.

 

Gold leaf paint is paint that has actual 'ground-up' powder of actual gold
metal in it as the pigment.  Thus, it is costly.

 

"Gold" paint today has some other ground up mineral as the powder that
mimics the color and reflectivity of gold (Au) but doesn't cost that much.
Iron Pyrite (all that glitters is not gold) used to be part of the pigment
but that too became too costly.

 

DULUX gold paint is a yellow pigmented paint that is not based on a metallic
pigment.  But, it looks gold-like.  Cheaper.

 

Gary Rolih

Cincinnati

 

 


  _____  


From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
[mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 12:00 PM
To: Norfolk Western Mailing List
Subject: RE: Lettering color on early steam

 

In generic terms, what is gold leaf comprised of? and how is it applied to
the prototypes?
 
Thanks,
Dave Willis
(blt 1962, c/n 4)
 

> To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org

> Subject: Re: Lettering color on early steam

> Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 06:20:27 -0400

> From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org

> 

> It appears to me, that in VERY early photos of N&W locomotives (perhaps 

> freight only) that the lettering is white rather than gold, for example

the 

> picture of the first loco produced by Roanoke. Anyone else have data?

> Jim Cochran

> dcochran116 at roadrunner.com

> 

> ----- Original Message ----- 

> From: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> To: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 9:20 PM

> Subject: Re: Lettering color on early steam

> 

> 

> > Joe

> >

> > I have drawing F1154 Oct 24 1884 shows gold leaf on passenger tenders 

> > and gold paint on

> > fright locomotive tenders

> >

> > Larry Evans

> > Kenova, WV

> >

> >

> > ----- Original Message ----- 

> > From: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> > To: <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> > Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 5:04 PM

> > Subject: Lettering color on early steam

> >

> >

> >> Gentlemen,

> >> I've been asked by a model company to supply info about the lettering

on 

> >> early N&W steam. My information is that the lettering color on both 

> >> passenger and freight pre-1900 steam was gold leaf. Can anyone confirm 

> >> or deny that?

> >> Thanks

> >> Joe Giannovario

> >> O Scale Trains Magazine

> >> ________________________________________

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