While working on a recent project, I put a post on the H.A.M.B. looking for a scan of a spe...<P><P>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Still can't post images, but want to thank you for making my day. I first got into this stuff on a visual level, as an infant - I didn't know anything about it, other than the imagery - it all looked cool. Been hooked ever since, of course, and it sent me on a long strange trip through sign painting and graphic design, etc...Bottom line is, it's fun! Imagine the poor bored guy doing lawn and garden ad layout in the local 'paper, when Almquist calls, wanting this stuff done - must've really made HIS day, too.
I Love Old Print. It Just Goes Back To The Days When Things Were Pure And Untainted. Lets See Some More Of These People!
A good hand laid advertisment is fast becoming a thing of the past.When I was looking for someone to hand paint the signage in my shop it was difficult. Hippie Bob who was a fabulous hand letterer did all my work many years ago. When I called him to letter the window on my diner he tried to sell me on the idea of vinyl applique. "Goddam it Bob, I want you to hand paint on the fucking glass with One Shot, Okay? " He finally agreed, but it was clear he had shifted over to the dark side. I really like the look of hand laid ads and graphics.There was a rawness to them that remains untouched by computer generated stuff. All these new guys do is talk about their favorite fonts they downloaded from somewhere. I just wanna see a competent artist lay nice lines. Damn, I miss that!
I love the old illustrations of race cars with the lines coming off the wheels and body in order to give them a running visual. I'm working on an image of the A that I can paint on the side of my panel along with the name of an old speed shop from the 50s-60s. Keep em coming.
1944 and 47-49 version of Dan Post Blue Book of Custom Restyling Back cover Same book a few more pages added in 1951... new cover This is the inside backcover. Rather gruedly cut out photos of early customs... on textured paper... I can look at it for hours. And this is how the cover looked for the 52 edition... (I have a better scan, but cant find it)
I was starting in graphic arts at the tail end of traditional camera-work, paste-up and stripping era (I have the Exacto/razor blade scars to prove it), I can appreciate how much time and skill it took to do something like that relatively simple (now) black and yellow cover. That same amount of work would have had to be done on crappy design too, so it especially nice to see it done with a good design.
My first job in the speed equipment industry was doing catalogs for Offy, Crower, Weber, Jardine and a host of other "name brands". It was hard work, but fun. Back in the day, you could get John Thawley to do a tech piece or use Eric Rickman photos in catalogs. The easiest catalog was Offy as Fred put a single page in a file folder and added notes, revisions, etc. throughout the year. Crower was tough as they were constantly changing grinds. Guys (and gals) in the business today know more about computor generated stuff and little or nothing about the product they're promoting. Look at the ads in HOT ROD in the eighties compared to a current issue. The internet has changed things considerably and not always to the good.
I've been after the original Dan Post custom book since I first saw to old guys fondling one in 1980 at the Pomona Swap Meet. I was SHOCKED when a HAMB guy offered one for sale this year and I got it- turned out to me a mint copy. There is some amazing stuff in there- longest I ever waited to read a book!
What really funny is .....back in the 40's,50's,and early 60's...printing technolgy was sooo primitive....you really had to do a 1,2 color job. Halftones were very pricey and full color printing was just in it's inception,..... And Mike is right......rubylith and waxers were a bitch. With desktop printing today...well........... ....I don't miss my X-acto.
I wonder if it's just our appreciation for old shit that makes us think this stuff is so much better done than much of the stuff that is out there today. I mean, there are certainly some exceptions out there (So-Cal, Stromberg, etc...) but most modern companies don't seem to put this kind of detail in their collateral materials.
I have sat down with Ed Almquist a couple times a talked for a while, very smart and interesting guy, his newer factorys from the 60's and 70's are about 25 minutes from me when he was doing Sparkomatic, he was big on inventions that were patented and even had some type of design for super gas mileage but I believe the goverment frowned pretty heavily against it and that was over 40 years ago. When he did his book Hot Rod Pioneers he donated evrything to charity, if you haven't read the book I would highly suggest getting a copy it's well worth the buy.
I think you're right, for me anything old resonates with me, reminds me of a simpler time. I would disagree with you though, on the modern companies details..... there are still lots of artistic expressions made, just with photography and computers. Same love, different canvas, ya know? I work at the U of Arizona, and I've seen some amazing talent spent on flyers, adverts, etc..... these young kids get it!
I'm in love with old print... I have collected a stuff from all over the internet, plus I have some that I need to scan at home. Also, I'm teaching myself how to sign paint. I'll add my recent project progres pictures to this weeks art show. I have a computer graphics background, but I have to admit that I'm really tired of doing it... It's not my "real" job, but I get roped into doing web work and layout on a regular basis. Excellent post Ryan.. Here are some of the images that I have collected on my work computer:
Hmmm. I guess the web page is their preferred format. But, the physical element of a printed material is tangible. The argument, you can't take your laptop everywhere (and the limitations, you have to power it up, it's bulky and cumbersome, you have to wait, etc.) But with a mag or book, it's there! ready to look through and it's real! Also, take a look at other printed materials during this era, Blue Note records are a pure visual enjoyment for me, every single one till about the late sixties (And the musicians are nothing short of brilliant). When I get home tonight, I'll add to this thread. Ken
I think that is partially correct. I also think that these old catalogs represent a lot of heart and soul and most importantly TIME! I'm not saying that computer graphic artists don't care today but the time in the art, cutting and pasting and printing these old catalogs is phenomenal. I would also agree that printing has changed so drastically that generally the people designing, writing copy and printing a catalog often know very little about the products. Everything is just so big business now.
I agree that there is some great design still out there... David Carson is a hero of mine... But I meant more in the Automotive sector... You don't see our aftermarket guys spend too much money on this stuff it seems... And Joe, great post.
i really love the sans serif type faces that were so prevalent back then (or so it seems). it's amazing how many different things they can communicate but in general the weight and air of confidence i get from them is really wonderful. Ryan, in that first example, the cover of the red almquist catalog. that layout is so beautiful. that might sound nerdy but the air on the page, the generous leading, the symmetry, it's all so nice...
Big companys such as Edelbrock and others...machine equip.,wheel companys etc,etc.....for the most part....really don't buy into the "retro" thing in todays world.They want a broader audience.This is from my past expierence. Look at a Winters catalog.....fails miserably in its attemp to have a retro design....but, in defense of there case ...they still a sell a majority of product to the roundy round fellas..... who could not give a shit about a retro look of print. Big aftermarket parts houses(Keystone comes to mind)....look at market share and where there buyers are at.Hotrodders are a small percentage. Saying that.....I love the feel and look of what So-Cal is doing.
I love this stuff too. looks like fun. Collected from various electronic sources. Wish I had the originals. Those Geo Ham prints blow me away.
I had a cool little booklet that had "Austin Speed Week 1952" or something like that on the cover that I dontated to the HAMB drags auction last year. It had a super cool drawing on the front and now it seems I didn't scan it before I donated it. That's pretty amazing. I even took a picture of our Battleship game box, it's from 1968 and is pretty cool. My wife thinks I'm nuts. I have a speed catalog with no cover that I posted pics of here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67634 Some interesting car drawings, I know most of these aren't speed related though: I know this one isn't that old, about the 80s, but it's still cool
Heart, soul and a style. New print has a slippery kind of GQ/ focus group inspired feel... That and it's everywhere, omni-present. The old print has that style that makes you think that the guys doing it simply loved what they were doing. They understood the client that they were publishing for. Hand crafted... maybe that is the word.
i work in the graphics department for a beer wholesaler...i try to do everything simple and to the point but with that style that the older advertizing had while the others do their designs very "flashy" with computer tricks and whatnot i tend to do everything in solid colors and bold words etc. i've never had any formal training in this area but i have read ALOT of old books and magazines. the old design and layout work just speaks to me alot easier then flim flam advertizing commonly found today Zach
how about a 1932 pep boy`s catalog? very art deco. IMG]http://i146.photobucket IMG]http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r265/hot_rod_artist/pepboys011.jpg[/IMG
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