Hi Jeff,
That question would be tough to answer without actually scraping down
through the paint that has not peeled off and then slowly sanding through
the resulting paint chip layer by layer. It was pouring for a good part of
my time up there, so I was focused taking photos and keeping the camera dry,
with the idea I'd look at the photos later. As I said to some friends the
other day, I take the pictures while there and do the thinking later. Not a
perfect approach, but it keeps me from getting confused!!!
I can offer two observations to support the gold paint over gold leaf
hypothesis.
1) the word "lake" clearly has lighter coloured paint peeling off the gold.
Since this is not part of the painted lettering for "32", chances are it is
for the car name Lake Chamcook. Trouble is the lighter coloured areas do
not nicely follow a stencil outline....
2) a photo I did not post shows the work paint - oxide red - peeling off of
maroon on the lower corner of the side at one end of the car. Beneath the
oxide, painted onto the maroon is a clear yellow painted "R" for right side
(?). If they painted the R, they must have painted the rest of the
lettering, no?
Perhaps one of the volunteers up there is on this list and can get
permission to do the paint chip analyses I suggest. If someone provides the
chip, I'm happy to do the work myself.
Rob Kirkham
.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Pinchbeck
To: cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 7:46 PM
Subject: RE: [cpsig] gold leaf lettering etc
Robert, this is an interesting find. Lake Chamcook was renumbered to
business car 32 in July 1962. So this means the car survived until the end
of its revenue service in gold leaf? This is much later than I would have
expected. Is there any indication that may be gold paint was painted
overtop of the gold leaf? It's hard to tell from the photos. What do you
think?
Jeff Pinchbeck
