Inventory tags

[Marc Sova]

How were inventory tags typically finished? Trying to decide if I should put black in this inventory tag like the motor tag?….or just leave it solid brass. I couldn’t tell how it was originally. I’m leaning towards just solid brass. 
   It sort of looks like there’s black in the before photo but the ivory fab was overpainted black many years ago maybe in the 1940’s when a machine shop acquired it. 

Edited July 15, 2024 by Marc Sova

[Nicholas Denney]

Was definitely black

[Marc Sova]

7 minutes ago, Nicholas Denney said:

Was definitely black

Well in the old picture….youre seeing black from the paint job someone did in the forties or fifties.  That’s the black you’re seeing. I mean I may have been black….but that “before” photo is misleading 

[Nicholas Denney]

The black on those tags is nothing like paint you find on a fan. For one, it buffs off, it doesn't flake. I've always maintained it was some kind of oxide flashing or even an ink.

Edited July 13, 2024 by Nicholas Denney

[Michael Bouthiller]

I have a Emerson fan that was labeled for the US Air Force 

[Marc Sova]

50 minutes ago, Michael Bouthiller said:

I have a Emerson fan that was labeled for the US Air Force 

Yeah probably a 79AP-G model. But…,those giver/military tags are a different story. 

[Michael Bouthiller]

It’s a 79648 BB

[Michael Rathberger]

I thinks it's just up to the maker or business. I have an original brass property tag from Indianapolis power and light on an R&M which the background is red. A second, later fan bought at same auction had a watermark decal which also had a red background. 

[James Lawson]

Nearly all inventory or other private marking tags originally had lettering over a black background. As Nicholas mentioned, this black background was usually a thin finish that wore off easily. That's why you don't find too many of them with the black background intact. In the "before" picture that you said was a 1940s era repaint, natural wear inadvertently made the tag appear much like it would have originally.

[Marc Sova]

4 hours ago, James Lawson said:

Nearly all inventory or other private marking tags originally had lettering over a black background. As Nicholas mentioned, this black background was usually a thin finish that wore off easily. That's why you don't find too many of them with the black background intact. In the "before" picture that you said was a 1940s era repaint, natural wear inadvertently made the tag appear much like it would have originally.

Hmmm. Ok. Well, I almost was going to do ivory like I’m going the cage cage (cage badge was originally French gray and nickel but the nickel was in to bad of condition to save). 
   This inventory tag will be mounted on one of the ivory struts….so, as much as I am being a stickler for original on this fan, I think I may just leave it brass only. (So much so that I’m pretty sure I’m painting the brass blade ivory as it was originally rather than polish ). Thanks for the input everyone. 

[Michael Bouthiller]

[Doug Wendel]

The original tags were etched with black oxide finish that remained in the lower areas as part of the process.  I try to keep the original oxide when possible, lightly polish the raised stuff, and then lacquer.  But I have also painted a ton of them as well over the years.

[Marc Sova]

14 hours ago, Doug Wendel said:

The original tags were etched with black oxide finish that remained in the lower areas as part of the process.  I try to keep the original oxide when possible, lightly polish the raised stuff, and then lacquer.  But I have also painted a ton of them as well over the years.

Yeah. Well the question was more about the inventory tag. I’m not sure they were the same way. Regardless I’ve decided I’m gonna leave it raw brass so over time it tarnishes and I can polish the high spots. So…will sort of give it a bit of that look. I just feel the black would look way too hard mounted on the ivory strut. 

Edited July 15, 2024 by Marc Sova
Typo

[Nicholas Denney]

You asked a question and you received a concensus answer based on evidence presented and prior obtained knowledge of the participants. Your photo makes it very clear to me that the tag was once black and brass. The fan's paint is a heavy paint that chips. The tag's 'paint' is a thin coating that rubs off much like a smudge of dirt. 

 

I don't understand the purpose of posting and asking a question if you are going to shy away from a predictable answer. 🙂

[Marc Sova]

7 hours ago, Nicholas Denney said:

You asked a question and you received a concensus answer based on evidence presented and prior obtained knowledge of the participants. Your photo makes it very clear to me that the tag was once black and brass. The fan's paint is a heavy paint that chips. The tag's 'paint' is a thin coating that rubs off much like a smudge of dirt. 

 

I don't understand the purpose of posting and asking a question if you are going to shy away from a predictable answer. 🙂

[Patrick Ray]

Wish I had a pic of one I've done. But you can split the difference. I've used brass aging solution on tags and darkened the background then polishing the high spots. You can control how aged the brass becomes to choose your level of highlighting. Not as sharp of a contrast as brass against black paint. But it creates a nice contrast. 

[Marc Sova]

3 minutes ago, Patrick Ray said:

Wish I had a pic of one I've done. But you can split the difference. I've used brass aging solution on tags and darkened the background then polishing the high spots. You can control how aged the brass becomes to choose your level of highlighting. Not as sharp of a contrast as brass against black paint. But it creates a nice contrast. 

Oh wow thanks. I’ll have to get some of this to have on hand. Yeah I think I’ve decided I’m going to leave the inventory tag raw brass. But maybe I’ll use this on it to speed the natural process. I like the idea of the background being a little darker….but I definitely don’t want the background dark black like the motor tag I just restored as seen in pic. I think that will look horrible mounted on the ivory strut. And I don’t think it was that black to begin with. Honestly I would’nt be surprised if it was originally just brass without the oxide in the recesses. I just dont know if they would’ve went through the extra finishing process for something that was just a very small tag for the purpose of having a number stamped in it by a janitor or whatever.  As much as I like how my motor tag turned out (not perfect but not bad for my first ever and considering I jacked the corners up removing it) I think a black oxide would look way better. Not su “painted”. 

[Michael Rathberger]

The nice thing about that brass ager is it gives you great control. Light, medium, dark and if desired you can burnish it with a little fine grade steel wool for different effect. Here is a darkened socket and cluster I used it in. It's about as dark as I've gotten it.

[Michael Bouthiller]

That looks great Michael 

[Marc Sova]

16 minutes ago, Michael Rathberger said:

The nice thing about that brass ager is it gives you great control. Light, medium, dark and if desired you can burnish it with a little fine grade steel wool for different effect. Here is a darkened socket and cluster I used it in. It's about as dark as I've gotten it.

I ordered this. I figured it’s about the same as what Patric posted. 

[Marc Sova]

Also…,I did find this online….its not from the planet house but it appears to be a similar sized sort of inventory tag but does appear to have the oxide in the low spots.  But certainly not to the degree of looking heavy black. 

[Michael Bouthiller]

Is it for a fan Marc?

[Paul Carmody]

I also use brass darkener quite often for tags.As Patrick and Michael said you can make as light or dark as you like.