People often ask what our signs are actually made of, and whether they are old. The short answer is that the artwork is old and the sign is new. Here is what that means in practice.
The board
We print onto Chromadek, which is pre-painted steel sheeting made in South Africa. If you have spent any time on a farm or in a workshop, you have seen it: it is what a great many roofs and signs in this country are made of.
Two things make it right for this job. It is rigid, so it will not curl or warp the way board and paper do in a hot kitchen or a damp garage. And the factory paint layer gives a smooth, even surface, which matters more than you would think when you are reproducing artwork with fine lettering in it.
The print
The design is UV-printed straight onto that board. The ink is cured with ultraviolet light at the moment it is laid down, so it hardens on the surface instead of soaking in and going dull. What you get is a hard, colour-fast finish: bright colour that does not rub off when you handle it.
It is worth being plain about what this is. Our signs are reproductions of vintage advertising, made to be enjoyed and hung on a wall. They are not original enamel signs, and we will never describe them as such. If you are hunting for a genuine antique, we would rather tell you now than have you disappointed when the parcel arrives.
Two sizes, and why
We print in two sizes, and which one a design gets depends on the shape of the original artwork. Most pieces are 270 × 350 mm portrait. Designs that were originally wide, such as road signs and dealer boards, are 350 × 270 mm landscape. Every product page states the size and orientation, so there are no surprises.
If you are planning a wall, mixing the two sizes generally looks better than lining up identical pieces.
The aprons
Our aprons use the same artwork, but the process is different. The design is sublimated into premium gabardine rather than printed on top of it, which is why it does not crack or peel the way an ironed-on transfer eventually does. They are 620 × 820 mm, one size with adjustable straps, and they have a double front pocket.
Hanging it
Every sign arrives ready to hang. The sizes are modest and the pieces are light, so an ordinary picture hook or a couple of screws is all it takes.
There is more detail, including the full size table, on how our signs are made. If you want your own artwork or a farm or business name printed, have a look at custom orders, and if you have a question we have not answered, the FAQ is a good place to start.