Orange Empire has a project that involves repainting its Pullman cars. We are told that the Newberry Library in Chicago has the lettering template drawing for the letterboard, etc. We have initiated a request to the Library regarding obtaining copies of these drawings.

The Library's website says it can take 4 weeks to reproduce Pullman drawings. And the reference desk inquires by email can take 2-3 weeks.

These times are beyond the time line of this expedited project.

Does anyone have a copy of these drawings that we can barrow for our project?

If you can help and don't want to post, send a private message.

Send an e mail to Ted Anderson at the IRM Pullman Library. For a recent heavyweight re lettering, we used master font drawings from the library. It would help if you could add specifics since, over time, several differing fonts were used on specific lines who wanted their equipment trademarked or otherwise made unique.

Do to the short time needed, ask Ted if these large drawings can be scanned and sent digitally, assuming you have a print shop that can take such files. If you do not know ask around first and let Ted know if this is a possibility and the file sizes you might be able to accept.

Bob Kutella

A great way to send files of this nature is yousendit.com

They allow files up to 100 mb to be sent for free and can be downloaded for seven days. There is a limit to the number of downloads of a particular file, but I cannot remember what it is just now. IF you send a file that way your receipient receives and email directing them to a web address where the file can be retrieved. Very cool.

Bob,

It was Ted Anderson who told me that the 1930s era lettering was at the Newberry. At the time, I was talking to him about the specifications for our two heavyweight Pullman cars.

We are looking for the letterboard "PULLMAN" and the 4-1/2" high alphabet used for the car names. This for our two heavyweight cars and should be representative for the 1920s and 1930s.

The 7 inch extended Roman on the letterboard is in a series of drawings

174-D-27 to 174-D-32

These were drawn 5-2-25. They include the full size font outlines as well as the spacing between letters.

Perhaps Ted did not understand the specific request or felt you wanted other source material.

But with these numbers he should be able to accomodate you on at least this part.

I do not see the mailing tube (in my McGee's closet) with the info on the smaller 4 inch side lettering, but I am sure we got those prints from Ted.

Bob Kutella

The long "Pullman" full-size herald that Brian is talking about is at the Newberry and Bob's copy is a pieced together image from their earlier office copier that I had hoped he still has (may be at the Dover Strait for application). Newberry now uses a drawing print service for their images and stores the scanned images inhouse (Take note archives). Out in the country, we have an Oce TDS400 (450 the latest), courtesy of the support of NARF, that gives us fast turnaround time and permanent inhouse storage similar to Newberry's. Once they scan they still go out for the prints. Call Jo-Ann Dickie (Newberry directory) and she would try to expedite. In the meantime, I will check the files but certainly will get out those letters per Bob's help. I should post on all the new capabilities at our place - Standard Steel and Middletown Cars included. I am on travel for the next few weeks so my email will be intermittent. Please contact the Pullman Library directly after Wednesday. Brian, I remember now where I chucked a Newberry copy but request that you get an official copy as we do not copy other people's material (for good reason). Thanks to Bob you will get the other which I must have found before the digital era!

Yes Ted, I found the pieced together copy from the Newberry, but the tracing numbers I referenced are for single letters and I am sure you ran them off at our place.

Brian, if you are really in a pinch, there is also a drawing(s) for the smaller more standard Roman font in the Pullman collection. Actually an Osgood Bradley tracing for NYC heavyweight lettering, but it 'looks right'.

These would be tracing number 5913 from 1923 for the 5 inch letters (not a full alphabet font); and the full alphabet in 2.5 inch letters on Osgood Bradley 5927. The letterring on this one is crisp and sharp and includes dimensions of each character, and can be enlarged/reduced if this size is not exact for your car.

Ted. the print appears to be from a linen tracing and the title block is somewhat fuzzy - could be tracing 5827. Noted as being traced from NYC 13371.

Bob Kutella

Brian;

I was at Newberry Library last week and ordered a scan of the 7" roman letter board "Pullman". It is just over 15 feet long. Since it is out for copying right now, maybe they can just make you a second copy of the scan they will send me. It will be sent on a CD, as they did not want to e-mail the large file. They have a reproduction department that manages this work. You may want to contact them. The origianl drawing was rolled up with a very nicely done pounce pattern, still covered in chalk dust.

I am in North East , PA right now working my way east to Maine and not checkng e-mail regularly.

Dave Johnston

Thanks everyone for your input and help. This is the wonderful part of this forum.

I will be calling Jo Ann at the Newberry and see if we can work something out.

The name letters on the CORYDON are 4-1/2" high. This was verified by paint archaeology on the car side yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.

The 15 foot long stencil drawing is about the same as the letterboard SANTA FE from 1917 (the ATSF had two versions in that year the other had even more space between the letters and is 24' long -- both now at CSRM).

I will use Bob Kutella's information tomorrow to access the relevant drawings, and send them off same day, Brian. Timing could not be better (could have been much worse). Sorry to clog up the rypn with this dialog, and hope someone else out there benefits as well.