Vendo39b

[Eric]

As far as the letters they probably did use the rollers to paint
with and had heavy cardboard stencils to help keep the paint
from getting all over everything.
I have a 1940s Westinghouse Coca-Cola Cooler book I guess that belong to a salesman for the company. In it, it has the junior, standard, etc. models and facts on how much they
can hold and price. There also is a section on parts and repair
with photos. They used a large roller (similiar to the smalls one
used for inking) but these look to be about a foot wide and
they used these cardboard templates cut perfect that layed around the letters. I'll try and dig this book out and scan pictures if you think it would help.
And I've seen it done and it looks awesome. There's a man
in Springfield Missouri that uses this method. He uses a smaller
roller customized with wheels on each end to keep the roller
level, He uses One Shot Sign paint and made stenicls from cardboard and practiced A LOt on a older cooler till he got it
down.
MoonDawg you could do it.. I'm sure after time and time
again you'd be flying through it.
Would loved to have been there when the old timers did it..
They probably didn't even think twice about it... just roll, next roll, next, roll.....  '>

Eric

[Jim]

I have attempted this method and one thing that is VERY important... The lettering has be almost perfect because if it's not, the slight changes in elevation will cause the paint to either not apply or may cause you to apply slightly more pressure resulting in possible bleed over on another edge.

As you practice, you'll see the slight imperfections in the lettering; especially if there was any body work needed...